The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Are Destroying Themselves.Here Is Their Playbook.

This year's three vicars can be found on the Bethany seminary website.

Forget about the ELS and CLC (sic). They are so tiny and inbred that nothing can stop them faster than they can stop themselves. The Church of the Lutheran Confession (ha!) is the nastiest of them all, toxic and proud of it. 

ELCA began destroying itself - before its official start - with quotas. They wanted gay quotas, so I was ready to nominate a friendly LCA pastor from Gay, Michigan. He said, "Oh no you don't!" without a trace of humor. The Michigan Synod, LCA was decidedly Left-wing and humorless. 

ELCA has pursued that course, from the start in late 1987 to the big vote in 2009. Flouting the quota for 12 years meant they were ready to ordain the openly gay pastors, men and women alike, but not too keen on telling the truth - on the streets of Gath and all that. In 2013, Elizabeth Eaton moved from being a local Ohio district bishop to winning as the ELCA Presiding Bishop, ousting the male (boo hiss) Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. 

 

ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton M.Div. Powerfully Affirms LGBTQ Community - Reconciling Works

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What were the Missouri Synod and WELS doing during this slow-motion burlesque dance? 

Object to ELCA? No! because Thrivent knew the highest average income and total membership belonged to ELCA not the boondocks. ELCA members had more education too, another plus for insurance companies - better health than the other sects, meaning lower liabilities, better cash flow. 

As long as congregations get flower charts or cheap plastic pastoral yearbooks or money from the Junk for Jesus sales, the parishes are happy. I could add some other benefits but that would ruin my General Audience rating.

WELS and Missouri did not gain anything from the self-immolation of ELCA. The reasons are clear if someone has been around a bit. Both sects consider themselves elite and superior, downright snotty if they are related to other clergy. They major in creature comforts and doing as little work as possible. Many years ago DP Buchholz said no one visited members anymore, not even the "better" pastors. I wonder if he meant the sober ones. WELS has a reputation for insobriety and unearned pride. 

Missouri is not much different from WELS, although they got out of prep school business sooner than WELS. One wonders when Michigan Seminary (actually prep) will collapse or why it continues. Luther prep in Watertown is the only way to get a better position in the future - one of those unwritten rules that everyone honors in WELS. 

How is your math? WELS combined an all male college with a mostly girl college and ended with even fewer students altogether, plus another WELS college nearby and Bethany's tiny ELS college not far away. I know - I am being heartless. 

The CLC (sic) is so tiny that they have prep, college, and seminary in one tiny place.

The latest WELS joke is the sect starting 100 new congregations in 10 years, when reality suggests that many more will be closed in the same amount of time. I remember when 300 new starts in a dozen years would be a "fresh and exciting goal." 

Most importantly, these are cowardly sects that cannot admit they are Universalists (who are fairly nice overall). The combination of apostasy - crude, rude, and never subdued - is their anchor, not one of stability but one of that sinking feeling when everything's wrong and nothin' is right.

Party in the MLC fly-by: a visit from the cast of their oh-so gay college video.

WELS went all out to sell a for-profit Bible because it is Calvinistic and raging Objective Faithless Justification in the current edition. Where did the money go?

The Third Sunday after Trinity - 2024

YouTube

Hymn #262                 A Mighty Fortress

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me: 

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 

and forgive all my sins.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: 

O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed.

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

Collect

O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Cast thy burden upon the Lord: 

and He shall sustain thee.

V. I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. I will love Thee, O Lord my Strength: 

the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

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

The Sermon Hymn #436            The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want

       

Lost and Found

The Communion Hymn #310                  Thy Table I Approach - Loy Translation

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 #49                 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Happy Father's Day!
• Medical treatment - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Kermit Way, Lito Cruz and Family, Lori Howell, Sarah Buck, Tom Fisher. Those with emotional issues and those with metabolic disorders.
• The Greek lessons on Wednesday at 11 AM will be on vacation break. The Reformation Seminary lectures will continue on Tuesday and Thursday at 11 AM.
• The Veterans Honor roses are in recognition of our military in the past and present.

 By Norma A. Boeckler

KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.  3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Third Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end Amen.

Lost and Found

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

The opening should not shock anyone, because the Pharisees and scribes are murmuring exactly what the Lutheran managers and pastors  think, say, and act out. They are the ones - The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - who shun and excommunicate anyone who openly rejects their Objective Faithless Justification. Their argument against Justification by Faith, the Chief Article of the Christian Religion, is like a cat's ball of yarn - rolling across the floor and getting all tangled up - because they mix up everything then fall into a rage against faith. 

The scribes and Pharisees are synodical executives and sycophants who glare at anyone who opposes their money squandering and laundering. Their bloodshot eyes glare at those who dare to slightly suggest that they are one with Unitarianism and not even good at that. Like the Unitarians and Universalists (UUs - their own term) - they are losing the precious jewels of the past - bricks and mortar, property, and widow's endowments.

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

This translates into faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. How? Because this faith in the Savior is singular, the most important doctrine, the all-encompassing doctrine of the Bible. 

Color me an evolutionist for a minute or two. I went out to harvest the Queen of Sweden rose, almost up to my eyes, perfectly formed. Evolution! But wait, there is a very complicated, large spider's nest just below it, a gossamer trampoline. Over billions of years the spiders developed skills in manufacturing web and applying it with skill, knowing that insects would get trapped and provide fresh food, whether crawling down or up or flying into it. Dew on the rose's web, early in the morning, is a reminder - evolution is a fool's paradise.

The math for this man in the parable is not good, as if he would leave 99 sheep for the one lost and crying for help. A reader and author worries about all his farm animals; he must balance what they need and what he can do for them.

The sheep in the parable is universal, but not for Universalists who belong to the Big Five. ("Everyone is saved! Everyone! Everyone!" - formerly a youth group leader.) The person who holds to the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what his condition might be, can raise his voice to the Good Shepherd, even when there is nothing left except faith.

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

This is Christ, whose main attributes are love and forgiveness. There is no condemnation in His work, because He took the sins of the world upon Him. This verse emphasizes the Shepherd's voice of joy over this weak, fragile, and starving individual. The sheep is not scolded for trusting in the Shepherd, and finds comfort in the rejoicing.

 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Here is the visible church. This is saying that Jesus will lead back the lost and believers will rejoice, just as those do in heaven, with more joy over one sinner than 99 who "need no repentance." I take "need no repentance" as ironic humor, because it is poking fun at those who are so perfect that they do not share in the joy over the lost sheep who was found. Some openly declare that they are righteous through being in the right synod and coming from the ideal state, truly a Pharisaical attitude of works-righteousness and rejection of the Gospel itself - bragging about certain attributes as the correct school and DNA.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

Based on currency in those days, one piece of silver was a lot to lose. We may spot a penny on the ground or in the car, but a ten will attract a lot more notice. If we lose track of a significant amount, we will search and search to find it. Any precious item is going to be searched in every way possible. 

This parable seems to hang up in  the air, because the two passages are the lead into the next 20 verses, the Prodigal Son. The three go together to illustrate many perspectives of this theme about repentance - and joy from forgiveness, plus the sourpuss attitudes who of those who depend on their works-righteousness. 

the end.

The Best Biden Ever! - Please Watch

 

The Best Biden Ever!

Total Views on Ichabod - in the Nines

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Second Sermon - "Such names he must bear from these holy people, not because he was riotous or given to gluttony and drunkenness, but only because he permitted them to come to him, and did not thrust them from him nor despise them."

 

Second Sermon: The Doctrine of Christian Liberty; Grace and the Forgiveness of Sins

KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

1. This Gospel contains the teaching we hold and boast of as our chief doctrine, which is called the true Christian teaching, namely, the doctrine of grace and forgiveness of sins, and Christian liberty from the law. It is a very loving and friendly admonition to repentance and the knowledge of Christ. And it is ever a pity, that a godless, impudent person should be permitted to hear such an excellent, comforting and joyful sermon. And yet it is more sad, that every one graduates so soon in it and masters it so that he thinks he knows it so well that he can learn nothing more from it. Yet God, our Lord, does not permit himself to become vexed or weary in repeating it yearly, yea, every day, and enforces it as though he knew nothing else to preach, and as though he had no other skill or art. While we poor, wretched people immediately become so overlearned, so satisfied, tired of it and disgusted besides, that we have no longer a desire or love for it.

2. But before we take up the subject taught in this Gospel, let us first examine what St. Luke gives as an introduction to show what prompted Christ to preach the following sermon, when he says: “Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him,” because they wanted to be near him to hear his word, and he expresses freely and plainly what kind of people he had about him, namely, those who openly lived as they should not live, and were called downright sinners and wicked people. Thus it would appear that the Pharisees had sufficient reason to blame him, because he, who pretended to be a pious and holy man kept company with such low characters.

3. For at that time the men scattered hither and thither through the land were called publicans, to whom the Romans gave charge of a city, or of the revenue, or other duties or offices, and required of them a certain amount of revenue; just as the Turks or Venetians now assign a city or office to a certain person from which he must give many thousands of dollars a year, and whatever he extorts over and above that amount is his own. In this manner they proceeded. Those who collected such revenue and tax proceeded so that they had a profit from it. And as this sum thus appointed was large for each city or office, the officers extorted without let or hindrance, so that they might enjoy more as their ,own; for their masters were so close with them that they could not gain much for themselves, if they desired to act justly and take advantage of no one. Hence they were reported in all lands as being great extortioners in whom little good or honesty could be found.

4. Thus the other great crowds in general were called “sinners,” who otherwise were worse people and publicly lived in a shameful and wild way, in covetousness, adultery and the like. Such drew near to Christ in order to hear him, since they had heard, that in the light of his doctrine and his many miracles he was an excellent man.

5. Now, after all, there was a spark or two of virtue and honesty in them, that they had a desire for Christ and gladly heard his doctrine, and see what he did. Inasmuch as they well knew that he was a good man, and heard nothing but good of him, both in words and deeds, so that their doings did neither agree nor harmonize with his life; and yet they feel no enmity against him, nor flee from him, but go to him, not to seek anything evil in him, but to see and hear something good, and to hope that they might become better.

6. The Pharisees and the scribes, on the contrary, who were held and esteemed as the most pious and holy, were such poisonous reptiles, that they were not only enemies of Christ, and could not bear to see or hear him, nor suffer poor sinners to come to him and hear him that they might be made better, yet they even murmured and blamed him for harboring and receiving them, and said: Behold, is this that excellent and holy man? Who will now say that he is of God, as he associates with such rogues and wicked people? Yes, he is a “wine-bibber and a glutton,” and they say in another place, “a friend of publicans and sinners.”

7. Such names he must bear from these holy people, not because he was riotous or given to gluttony and drunkenness, but only because he permitted them to come to him, and did not thrust them from him nor despise them. For they thought he should have done so, and should have gone forth in a gray frock with a sour countenance and remained secluded from common people, and when he saw such publicans and sinners, he should have held his nose and looked the other way, so that he would not become polluted by them, as they themselves like holy people were accustomed to do. As Isaiah, 65:5, writes of them: that they kept themselves so pure that they would not dare to touch a sinner; as may also be seen in the example of Luke 7:39, where the Pharisees so bitterly opposed Christ, because he allowed himself to be touched by a woman who was a sinner. Now, these were they who at all times desired to be his master, and to prescribe to him and give him rules how he should conduct himself and live holy. Hence they murmur here, because he does not hold to them and avoid such public sinners as they do.

Flag Day

 

Two Fake Catholics

 

Surprise!

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 3 - "The Gospel is spoken to those only who acknowledge their sins, and their sins they acknowledge when they repent of them. But this Gospel is of no use to the Pharisees, for they do not acknowledge their sins."

Third Sunday after Trinity , Luke 15:1-10. Christian Conduct Toward Sinners. The Parable of the Lost Sheep

20. The Gospel is spoken to those only who acknowledge their sins, and their sins they acknowledge when they repent of them. But this Gospel is of no use to the Pharisees, for they do not acknowledge their sins. To those, however, who do acknowledge them, and are about to despair, the Gospel must be brought. But at this point the devil sets up a game, and suggests to the consciences of those who acknowledge their sins and long to be freed from them, that this one should resort to Saint James, that one to Rome, this one should take refuge in prayers, the other in confession.

And then they are told: “Give six pounds of wax, have so many masses said, do this, do that, and thus you will be freed from your sins.” Thereby they are led farther and farther from the Gospel, and are brought to the standpoint of works. In this way they must certainly despair at last.

21. Therefore, when you feel your sins gnawing at you, and feel your heart trembling and agitated, place yourself beside the publicans where they are standing. These are the very ones who shall receive the Gospel. Do so joyously, and say: “Oh, God! it is thy word that says there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance, and that all the righteous and angels are to interpose and cover up sins. Now, Oh, God! I have come to this that I feel my sins. I am already judged. I need but the one Shepherd who seeketh me; and I will therefore freely venture on thy Gospel.”

22. It is thus that you come to God. You are already the sheep placed upon his shoulders. You have found the Shepherd. You are the piece of silver in the hand. You are the one over whom is joy in heaven in the presence of all the angels. We are not to worry, if we do not experience or feel this at once. Sin will daily decrease, and its sting will drive you to seek God. You must struggle against this feeling by faith, and say: “Oh, God! I know thou hast said this, and I lean upon thy Word. I am the sheep and the piece of silver; thou the shepherd and the woman.”

23. You might say: Yes, this I will gladly do; but I cannot atone for my sins. I can render no satisfaction for them. Consider then the publicans and sinners. What good have they done? None. They came to God, heard his Word and believed it. Do the same. His are living words. The Gospel is too deep to be fathomed by human words. Conscientious men who tried it readily understand this.

24. The learned and idle may determine the meaning of the ninety-nine in the desert. It is enough for us to learn the main thought of this Gospel.

Reformation Seminary - Basic Biblical Doctrine

 

YouTube 

Inerrancy contrasts with My Little Toy Paraphrases

Inerrancy has been used a lot, but the term seems empty today. How can they promote the new Bibles with the Greek text corrupted by Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Dynamic Equivalence?!

By the way, Fundamentalist is a term that came from conservative Calvinists, not from snake handlers, tongue-speakers, and rednecks.

The Dynamic Equivalence (anything goes) translations come from the unified Biblical associations, which include the Church of Rome. The modern translations are not inerrant, as shown by their weak and fractured passages, the soup is so watered down. The paraphrases - living, amplified, who knows what else? - are the rotten smell of the earlier playing around with D.E.'

The NIV, RSV, ESV, NRSV, Beck, and others fail miserably, and they make money.

Spirit/Word

The Spirit is always at work in the Word of God: this is the primary stance of the Reformation, but laughed at by such notables as Calvin, Zwingli, and the Pope du jour.

Therefore, preaching, teaching, and Holy Communion are always the work of God.

Just as Jesus Christ is powerful, united in His human nature and divine nature, so are the Scriptures. The Biblical books are written by ordinary people and guided by the Holy Spirit. Very few theologians and scholars accept this, substituting their own fantasies, criticism, and erasure.

One example is the "faith of Jesus," found in Romans 3:22, Galatians  2:16, and Philippians 3:9. Why are the apostates so keen on showing faith in His human nature? 

KJV Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Clarity

The Scriptures are clear. We may have trouble with certain passages, but this is not the fault of the author or the Spirit. We often need more study and comparisons to understand. Jesus did not want every person to grab His teaching and mislead Him.

The darker or more difficult verses are illuminated by the brighter, easier passages.

Likewise, we cannot build a new cathedral because something gets people all excited, and they rush around like chickens in a tornado.

Assume the Best

I have gone through several excitements of Jesus' infant narratives. There is another one - Thomas - being waved around for money and publicity. Common sense is not that common anymore.

The Son of God and the Father help us through the Spirit in learning more and removing false ideas.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 3 - "Yea, what is still more, Christ himself does this, and to this end was he sent; for no man fulfills the law of God as perfectly as he. We are scarcely a spark amid the divine fire and light. He is the fire of which heaven and earth are full."

 

Third Sunday after Trinity , Luke 15:1-10. Christian Conduct Toward Sinners. The Parable of the Lost Sheep

14. Christ was filled with all righteousness, and might justly have condemned us all as sinners. But he did not do so. What did he do, then?

He gave himself to be our Servant. His righteousness has served for our sins, his fullness for our feebleness, his life for our death. This we find illustrated, for our example, in the Gospel before us, where he bears himself with such friendliness toward sinners that the Pharisees murmur.

The Lord therefore sets before them the following parables in order to teach how they are to receive sinners and be of service to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it, etc. Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?”

15. Christ is both the shepherd and the woman; for he has lighted the lamp, that is, the Gospel, and he goes about in the desert, that is, the world. He sweeps the house, and seeks the lost sheep and lost piece of silver, when he comes with his Word and proclaims to us, first our sins, and then his grace and mercy. Christ’s declaration, that he is the shepherd and has laid our sins upon his back or shoulders, makes us trust in him fully, and makes publicans and other sinners run after him. These would not have come unto him thus, had they regarded him as a hard and wrathful judge; for they had previously acknowledged themselves to be sinners and in need of his grace.

And so they were drawn to him when they heard his loving doctrine. Here comes the sheep out of the wilderness, and here the lost piece of silver is found.

16. Learn from this, then, that our neighbor is to be sought as a lost sheep, that his shame is to be covered with our honor, that our piety is to be a cover for his sins. But nowadays, when men come together they backbite one another; and thus they would show how zealous they are against sin.

Therefore, ye men, whenever ye come together, do not backbite your neighbors. Make not one face at one person and another at some one else.

Do not cut off one man’s foot and another man’s hand; make no such traffic of living flesh. Likewise, ye women, when you come together, conceal the shame of others, and do not cause wounds which you cannot heal. Should you meet with anything like this in some one’s house, then throw your mantle over shame and wounds, and close the door. A very good reason for doing this is, that you would have others do the same to you. Then, if you have kept the matter secret, bring the parties before you afterwards, and read them a good lecture; and let it remain with you as a secret.

17. Christ, too, acts thus. He keeps silent and covers our sins. He could, indeed, expose us to shame, and could tread us under foot, as our text shows that the Pharisees did. But he does not do so. All will be brought to light, however, at the final judgment. Then everything hidden must be revealed. Then the virgin must place her crown upon the harlot, the pious woman must throw her veil over the adulteress, and everything we have must serve as a garment to cover the sins of others. For every man shall have his sheep, and every woman shall have her piece of silver. All our gifts must be the gifts of others.

18. Hence there is, in God’s judgment, no greater sin on earth than that pious men and women and virgins commit when they despise those who lie in their sin and would appropriate to themselves their natural gifts, puffing themselves up and despising their neighbor.

19. Hence this Gospel is very comforting to sinners. But whilst it is friendly to sinners, it is a source of great fear to Pharisees. Had this Gospel been nothing more than a good counsel, it would not have been so comforting; but now that it has been commanded I can recognize the mind of God in Christ, since he will have it so, and enjoins that we are to cover the sins of others. Yea, what is still more, Christ himself does this, and to this end was he sent; for no man fulfills the law of God as perfectly as he. We are scarcely a spark amid the divine fire and light. He is the fire of which heaven and earth are full.

Lutherans Must Do More Research on Their Own

 

I enjoy chasing down the facts from synodical headquarters and seminary libraries. I have published plenty; Christina was a major force in exposing verbatim facts and sources. Others have contributed but I dasn't name them. 

Two things are quite important -

1. The Big Five - LCMS-ELS-ELCA-WELS-CLC (sic) - do not cherish the truth.
2. The ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS have deluxe headquarters, but seldom used libraries.

If they had chosen students as their endowments instead of robbing the givers for spanking new mausoleums, the crisis would not be looming upon them. Read a little history and you will see that the synods have been letting their students borrow huge sums of money - which became enormous burdens on students, especially those who dropped out along the way. 

Long ago, Augustana College and Seminary let one student swap a truck full of potatoes for tuition. I took Greek in my freshman year of college, but now some schools ask $3,000 for "summer Greek," cash up front. Summer Greek students at St. Louis get to splash in the fountain upon finishing. 

However, the real treasure is Biblical doctrine, which is mocked in every single one of the Big Five - LCMS-ELS-ELCA-WELS-CLC (sic). 

Luther-Melanchthon-Chemnitz led the Reformation through scholarship and preaching the Gospel.  Matt the Fatt is still parroting Objective Justification's magical hocus pocus - Romans 4:25, but not Romans 4, or even Romans 4:24-25, to wit - 

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. OJ! Yay Matt!

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. - Yes - Justification by Faith.

If the Big Five leaders are not "apt to teach," they must step down and stop wasting everyone's money to make themselves look good. 

 Each sect disparages the others, but they still hide under the wings of their boss.