WELS Survivor Addresses the Education Post

Pastor John Gore, LCMS, formerly WELS, quoted with permission, responding to this article on Lutheran education:
As a worker-priest with 10 years of experience in metal fabrication I can see the end of it. The manufacturing jobs are drying up even though industry is always whining about not finding anyone qualified to run their machines (and you'd better be willing to work 60+ hours a week and on Sundays too). I've been unemployed for three months at the moment (this is the third time in as many years). 

When I create my resume I don't even put my M.Div on it. It's totally worthless. It's so sad seeing the faces of those WELS farm boy pastors who think their M.Div is worth anything in the secular world. They've been sold a bill of goods by the prep., the college and the Sem. Getting a degree in something useful in the secular world is probably a good thing while you're preparing for Sem. Too bad I didn't do it. At 61 it's too late now, and I can't afford it anyway considering my debt load. So I guess it's Walmart for me! Thanks for nothing Mequon!

***
GJ - John and I happened to be room-mates at a WELS gathering. WELS decided to remove him for teaching the Word consecrates.  Likewise, they got rid of Pastor Howard Festerling, now deceased, for teach the Word alone is effective.

We also had a great time talking at a bookstore. Heiser was there too. We were kicked out when the store was closing, but not dis-fellowshiped.

The Wisconsin sect has done so many evil things against good pastors and supported so many drunken adulterers.... There is not room enough on the blog to post everything.

They treat teachers like dirt, too.

Later I will get into the inevitable effects of such corruption.

Callable? Sure.

EL DONUTS! School District Suspends Bible Study After Complaints About Inducing Kids With Free Donuts | Law News

School District Suspends Bible Study After Complaints About Inducing Kids With Free Donuts | Law News:



"The Joplin, MO school district has reportedly agreed to the demands of a legal group and suspended a bible study after complaints that free donuts were being used to induce children to attend the meetings.

The American Humanist Association’s legal team drafted a nine-page letter to the school district last month that made several allegations, including that the school was “enticing students to Bible studies with donuts” and such conduct “is deceitful and inappropriate during school hours.”

The letter further stated, “Teachers should treat all of their students equally rather than giving out special treats to students who participate in Christian activities.”"

'via Blog this'

Happy Birthday - Founder of the LCMS, UOJ, Halle University, and Synodical Conference - Spener

 Basics of Pietism

Wiki
In Berlin Spener was held in high honour, though the tendencies of the court and the government officials were rather rationalistic than pietistic. The University of Halle was founded under his influence in 1694. All his lifelong Spener had been exposed to the attacks and abuse of the orthodox Lutheran theologians; with the years, his opponents multiplied, and the movement which he had inaugurated increasingly served as a subject for hostile criticism. In 1695 the theological faculty of Wittenberg formally laid to his charge 264 errors, and only his death released him from these fierce conflicts. His last important work was Theologische Bedenken (1700–1702), to which was added after his death Letzte theologische Bedenken, with a biography of Spener by CH von Canstein (1711).

 Jar Jar Webber prefers Rambach to Chemnitz.

Lutheran Education and Teaching

 ELDONA's early commitment to UOJ is shown by its joint
meetings with the Rolf Preus Synod.
Heiser said of UOJ fanatic Rolf - "We'll get rid of him later."

Someone asked about seminary, earning theology degrees, and the future of teaching theology.

As I wrote before, I would never suggest wasting money on the following seminaries:

• Concordia, Ft. Wayne, LCMS.
• Concordia, St. Louise, LCMS.
• Mordor - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WELS.
• Little Mordor - Bethany Lutheran Seminary, ELS.
• And the micro-mini schools, like ELDONA, with no faculty and one student. They have a "deacon" who is not qualified to teach and they reproduce the old error of academic in-breeding, teaching themselves the doctrinal errors and obsessions of their own sect.

As far as I can tell, Fuller Seminary has become the Walmart of denominational education. Setting aside the wildly pan-sexual, Universalist, lavender seminaries of the National Council of Churches (which also have Fuller links), the so-called conservative schools are populated with Fuller graduates and promote Fuller publications.

That Fuller saturation is especially true of the WELS, LCMS, ELS, and CLC (sic). I would be justly accused if I failed to mention the Roman/Eastern Orthodox factions at both Concordia seminaries and to some extent in ELDONA.

Wasting a ton of money at a seminary where the denomination will gladly let a man borrow himself into insolvency and then expel him - that makes no sense at all.  The Missouri Synod is famous for that. Someone said that the population of expelled LCMS pastors are largely Walmart workers today. I have no idea if that is true, but a Missouri MDiv prepares a man for nothing except aping the latest LCMS fads and groveling before the DP.

ELDONA suggsts that potential candidates leave good jobs and find a new career near Malone, Texas, for $10 an hour. For future security, I suggest also marrying the  daughter of an ELDONA pastor. Having a wife who will commute 100 miles each way for a real job is also a plus.

Alternatives
At this point an MDiv from anywhere is good if the governing body lets someone into their precious sect. I would definitely bargain-hunt with an eye to the future.

The brick-and-mortar seminaries have set up alternative programs which are making the actual campus and library obsolete. Online MDiv or MA degrees are possible - and even quite the bargain - compared to paying LCMS and WELS professors a fortune to read their yellowed notes to students. Why leave a real job for a gig at Starbucks? Why make one's wife an indentured servant of the synod? Long ago, Concordia St. Louis assumed the Mrs. would put her husband through seminary. This may lead to polygamy for the sake of professors' salaries. Time will tell.

Teaching in Higher Education
The denominations are coming apart, and so are their systems of higher education. When WELS decided to underfund their own schools, they drove up costs so high that the prep school, Northwestern College, Mordor combination became far too expensive to support. The others are no diferent.

The worst possible goal is to pursue a fake doctorate at a synodical school (LCMS) or a D.Min. (really the old STM degree, watered down). Many teaching jobs are available, but not teaching synodical loyalty to an indifferent population of college kids.

The important part of teaching at the college or graduate school level is having a balanced education, not all theology. Any hot program will get stone cold in time, so jumping on one topic for too long will be damaging. I took computer science for publishing, maybe for a job, when that was red-hot. That also died down after Y2K, so computer jobs were good for a block-long line out the door, massive layoffs, and other bad news.

The community college hired me for computer science, and so did a university. When that teaching field dried up, my liberal arts background got me into a bevvy of fun courses - business writing, communications, critical thinking, world religions, ancient history, and the history of the humanities. Seeing that I was treading on the quicksand of change, I earned an MA in adult education and took some journalism courses.

No seer could have told me what I would be teaching in the future. Once I had the paper in hand, doors opened. At the moment, I mostly teach Old Testament in graduate school, adult education in graduate school. I have taught young kids right out of high school or home-school, and grizzled old geezers like me.

Someone who wants to create a career in higher education should earn a doctorate. Anything below that will be seen as not tenure material. Tenure may go away, but schools love the doctorate. The normal rule now is a master's degree in the subject to be taught, but that depends on demand. When demand is high, fogging a mirror is enough.

My lab friend began teaching at the community college without having an undergraduate degree. I encouraged him. His two assets were being bi-lingual and patient with foreign or elderly students, the population of the so-called slow course. Now he has a doctorate. I am proud to say I got him enrolled to finish his degree and found a scholarship for him.

Responses to First Greek Lesson

People wrote immediately after the first New Testament Greek class. I am taking this slowly because I know everyone needs to absorb a lot. I remember those days, even though it was 50 years ago. I was a slow starter.

Note this - Little Ichabod was a whiz at St. John in Latin. When we were done, he could read and translate a chapter at a time, no notes - fast - and he got even faster. When we repeated in Greek, it was slogging away, just like the first days in Latin.

Tough slogging in the Slough of Despond

Pliable: Then said Pliable, Ah! neighbor Christian, where are you now?

Christian: Truly, said Christian, I do not know.

Pliable: At that Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect between this and our Journey's end?

Do not be like the character who fell into the Slough of Despond in Pilgrim's Progress. "If this is how the journey begins, how will it end?" He went back to the City of Destruction.

'This miry Slough is such a place as cannot be mended; it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore is it called the Slough of Despond: for still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place; and this is the reason of the badness of this ground.'^[1]

Not everyone wants to do this, and that is perfectly understandable. Do I want oboe, skiing, or voice lessons? No.

Two approaches really help in immersion training:

1. Speak the words out loud until reading them smoothly is natural, no longer like the piano student chopping at the keys instead of playing them.
2. Spend a lot of time matching Greek words to their English derivatives or equivalents.

Some Greek Words You Already Know - More or Less - From English

Catherine - pure

Margaret - pearl

Peter - rock

Stephen - crown

Greg - watchman

Aspirin - yes that is found in 1 Thessalonians

 Westcott and Hort worked  hard to destroy Christian
trust in the text and the truth of God's Word.
Knowing some Greek is the key to understanding
these frauds and the damage their deceptions continue
via the New NIV.

Even So - Completely Wrong! The Hot ‘New’ Church Growth Method

The Hot ‘New’ Church Growth Method:



"A new study just unearthed a remarkable finding: conservative doctrine grows churches.

This isn’t necessarily what we’ve heard in recent years. Whether it’s the music, the attractive facility, or the feeling of community, we need something to keep the church growing—something besides biblical teaching. How surprising, then, that David Millard Haskell, Kevin N. Flatt, and Stephanie Burgoyne have found that doctrine grows churches. In their peer-reviewed scholarly article for the Review of Religious Research, a prestigious journal, the trio present findings among mainstream Canadian churches showing that—contra the stereotypes—doctrinally conservative churches that reach out aggressively often grow. Churches that soften biblical teachings and de-emphasize evangelism often shrink."

'via Blog this'

***

GJ - The only issue is being faithful to the Word, which will bring about God's will. That can be quite tumultuous for the individual, congregation, or country.

The Reformation was a time of great violence because the Church of Rome used every possible scheme to extinguish the Gospel, but that era was also a time of great growth in faith, in appreciation of God's Word, and in the abundance of the fruits of the Spirit.

This is the issue - not any other.

First Greek Lesson Live on Ustream, Thursday, 7 PM Central Standard.

Here is the saved video of the first lesson, John 1:1-5.


Some resources will be posted here Thursday AM.

This is the Ustream link for the first presentation.

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

To read Greek, everyone must know the Greek alphabet, which is almost the same as ours, since English is based on Greek via Latin.

There was a young vicar from Kew,
Who kept an old cow in a pew.
He taught each week,
A new letter in Greek,
But it never got farther than mu.

You do not have to write it out, but it may help to learn the alphabet, Later, in looking up Greek words, knowing the order helps.

Once the alphabet is learned, reading the Greek words is next.

We will use the Gospel of John.

Greek NT: John Chapter 1

1 ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
2 οὖτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν.
3 πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν
4 ἐν αὐτῶ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων·
5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.
6 ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῶ ἰωάννης·

There are many sources for St. John in Greek. We will get into text issues later - how the text is chosen or manipulated.

Step One - The Obvious 
Look for words you already know in English, by changing the Greek letters into English. Later this will be easy. The brain has to switch over.

Connect them with English words.

arche - beginning - archeology
logos - word - study of beginnings, archeology
theos - God - study of God, theology
pan, panta - all, pandemonium - all demons,
egeneto - came about or born, genetics
zoe - life, zoo - zoology,
phos, photos - light, photography (graph - writing)
anthropos - man, anthropology - study of man
skotia - darkness - no derivatives in English
phanei - verb, shines, ephanescence
onoma - name, onomatopoia - cuckoo, a cuckoo is named for its cuckoo

Fill in Other Words
ἦν - was, imperfect. The be word is irregular in all languages
ὁ - article, nominative
τὸν - article, accusative
Learn to love the article in Greek, which shows the case of the noun. This is unusual for those with Latin. The article is "the".

Majorly Important

1. Never write the English in above or near the Greek. 
2. Never open the English up near the Greek. 
3. Never get anxious over grammar and vocabulary. Both build naturally.
4. No interlineal Greek/English.
5. No alternative page Greek/English.
6. Burn your Greek flash cards.

Must Do

1. You must spend time on the Greek alone. 
2. Learn the alphabet by heart. Write it down if that helps.
3. Read it out loud until the passage comes out easily. The brain is starting to let Greek take root. For every person Greek is chicken scratches at first.

Tactics of the Left - Censoring Anything That Displeases Them - Sanctimony Dripping from Their Lips

 Bultmann is a good example of Pietism turning into pure Rationalism,
while still making a living off of Biblical piety.
That is the WELS-ELCA-LCMS-ELS-CLC (sic) today.

By now most people realize that ObamaCare was a complete fiasco, forced into law by deceit and manipulation. Some are hanging onto the myth, so I pointed out that it was designed to fail and morph into total government control - "single pay" - as promised by candidate Obama in 2008.

What followed on Facebook was a series of personal attacks, which got uglier and uglier. No one wanted to touch on the facts of ObamaCare. No, I was a horrible person, a monstrous Christian, even mocked for having a fun, old photo as my profile - as if that never happened before on FB.

I kept feeding the frenzy, simply by pointing out what the Left could not face.

The format was familiar. I have seen the tactics used by the dying Lutheran sects for decades.

• A new agenda  is beyond questioning, because it is pure truth and goodness.
• After a bit of discussion, the attacks are launched.
• The facts only enrage the apostates, making them even more venomous.
• People take turns issuing their denunciations.
• Most are silent, because they do not want to be targets.

For example, the Chief Article of Christianity is Justification by Faith Alone, but the ELCA, WELS, LCMS, ELS, and CLC (sic) all say their Pietistic, rationalistic UOJ is the Chief Article.

The Chief Article is a fact, not a theory or myth, and the Book of Concord is exceptionally clear - linking Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz to that foundational thought. But where do any of the apostate leaders acknowledge this to be true? Has anyone read Luther's Galatians, the old German LCMS catechism, the original Gausewitz?

 Have you bought your Reformation shot glass yet?
Doggy t-shirt? Here I Stand socks? Bottle opener?

Their UOJ is the Chief Article (Bivens plagiarizing Zarling) is a fatuous lie, but they have laid down their new agenda in spite of their published contradictions, and no one can debate.

While honoring the Reformation with their lisp (intentional spelling), their hearts are dead set against Luther's Biblical doctrine.

Sassy Gets a Traveling Companion

Sassy and I did perimeter security at a Moline reunion dinner,
a few years ago.
Sassy always has something to say.
We took altar flowers to a neighbor for his birthday this week -
she sang Happy Birthday with me.

Sassy and I went out for our morning walk, joined by our neighbor's dog. She is some kind of Dachshund, probably a mix, the one that does canine wheelies all the time. When she starts off, she raises her front legs in the air for a second, probably the torque from her rear legs.

Everywhere we went, our little companion followed, dashing around with glee, pretending to be independent but always catching up. We almost had a new dog, but I took her over to her owners when we were done.

Later our helper had a total of 16 bags of leaves to bring into the garden Ten stout bags came from a distant neighbor and six from his tree-less yard. We have a good layer overall, but could easily compost another 20 or so. When the spring rains come, there will be plenty of food for the soil in the backyard.

I shocked Facebook friend Jeff Lowenfels, telling him I had his newest book already. Amazon shipped it before it got into bookstores. I am just starting it now.

Two of us are gathering leaves in our area. The other is the owner of Almost Eden Gardens and Nursery, the other toxin-free grower. He takes his truck out to get leaves. I use our Town Car. Recently we went shopping in Fayetteville, and I brought back a car packed with leaf-bags, so happy.

The topic makes me smile, because I was doing this when Little Ichabod was young enough to hide in the backseat when I stopped for the neighbor's leaves. No matter how many I put on the yard, they were all gone by late spring.

The gardening books at the time were dismissive of leaves, because dead leaves are not full of compost-energizing nitrogen. That is true, but they are full of fungus-feeding carbon.  The soil, when left alone and free of toxins, is laced with miles of fungal tubes that take nutrition and water to plant roots. The fungi obtain the carbon they cannot manufacture - but must have - in exchange for the plants' demands.

I do not need to test the soil - and worry about the mix of this or that organic addition to the soil. I simply add as much free stuff as I can. I began a stick and twig pile near one tree. Instead of tossing them away during yard cleanup, I throw them in the same pile. The pile does not grow, because the birds nab them for nesting material.

Early in the spring I will hang twine on the bushes and place dryer lint in baskets, for additional nesting material.

Early in his business, Sam Walton reasoned that he could sell below others if he kept his costs low. That policy was enforced down to making pencils last and reporting funds down to a fraction of a penny.

Last year I spent nothing on chemical fertilizer, nothing on toxins. My birdbaths were children's pools, bought at the end of the season - from Kmart.

Squirrels Get Their Own Feeder - Birds Win

Recently I had two hanging feeders from Lowes at our birdwatching window. However, the squirrels used their abs to plank - to hold onto the brick wall with their hind feet and reach one feeder with their front feet. To keep up their strength, they ate and ate and ate the sunflower seeds.

I moved that feeder to the tree, where they could scavenge all day. It would not be too easy and keep them occupied.

The Cardinals immediately landed on the window feeder and began enjoying their food in peace, no longer annoyed by nearby squirrels mooching from the other feeder.

One day we had Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal having dinner at once. Not only that, the shy Chickadees came in to flit, grab a seed, and leave - and return.

Meanwhile, we are still gathering leaves. We had warm weather, then a plunge to minus 1 degree, and now a warmng trend to 65 on Tuesday. Springdale looks like most towns in October, with streets and lawns packed with leaves.

 Finches eat at the Finch feeder.
Photofunia by Norma Boeckler.

The Creation Gardening Book Is Done. Artwork Is Next. Then The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine: Luther's Theology of the Word

 We interrupt this grading session for a refreshing nap.

The Creation Gardening book is proofed and soon to be sent to the art division of Bethany Lutheran Church - Norma Boeckler.

This is a scene from Norma Boeckler's garden!

The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine is already started and will be finished next - much faster, I think.

Thank you for all the encouraging messages about both books. I have two more in the works, one from Lulu and one from ancient times, but they will both have to wait a bit.

Luther's Theology of the Word

Meanwhile, in the general area of spreading around good books, I have a new list coming out. Look for that. Someone donated a trunk full of books that are valued by Lutherans.

Keil-Delitsch was requested right away - one title, many books. The rest take a little time to list. One is Leupold's Genesis.

 Norma Boeckler offers daily contributions of Biblical art
 to Facebook.

A Reader Sends in Luther Quotations

I have to thank you for Ichabod's  link to Luther's sermons. Incredible stuff! It is striking to see how clear Luther is in pronouncing the true Gospel of "salvation by faith". Yet, in spite of Luther's clarity, today's UOJ fanatics claim him as an ally in their battle against God-given faith.

Below, from Vol. 3 of Luther's sermons, page 207, Luther speaks clearly: Those without belief in Christ have already been condemned. It is simply impossible to reconcile Luther's words with UOJ, and yet the fanatics claim him as their champion. They are shameless in their deception and dishonesty. 

Your efforts are having an impact! Please keep posting the "Good News" of salvation by faith in Christ.

Pax,

A Reader

“But he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.”

55. Here you have the final judgment against the boasting pride and self-

praise of the Jews and of all the world. As the first part of the text with oneword opens heaven, closes hell and sets aside Moses and the threats of the Law for those who believe, so Christ here with one word, closes heaven, leaves open the jaws of hell, permits death to reign and Moses to be an intolerable tyrant for all that disbelieve. For this there is and shall be no help, though you, like the Jews, torment yourself to death in keeping the Law, even torturing and burdening yourselves, saying: Did I not do many good works and even suffer much? Alas, here you have the decision: “He that disbelieveth shall be condemned.”

56. Even though man accomplishes all that he possibly can, yet without

Christ, everything has already been concluded under sin and God’s wrath; as we heard in the Gospel of St. John, that the Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect of sin, because they believe not etc.

John 16:8. Here, in the text we are considering, the judgment of condemnation is already pronounced on the world, together with all its righteousness of the Law and religious service. No one on earth can escape this judgment, nor be rescued from condemnation, except by hearing and believing this message, which says that those who believe in this Lord and Savior shall not be condemned because of their sins, but shall, because of him, have forgiveness of sins and life eternal.

Christ says, in John 3:16, that “God so loved the world that he gave his

only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish” etc.

“For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the

world should be saved through him.” John 3:17. Therefore, “He that

believeth on him is not judged,” but “he that believeth not,” says he, “hath

been judged already.” John 3:18. This judgment of condemnation

remains upon him because of his disbelieving, imputing all sins to him,

which cannot be forgiven. Thus he increases his sin and makes his

condemnation the stronger; in addition to all ether sins, he also despises

Christ by not believing in him.

Vol. 3 of Luther's sermons, page 207

***

GJ - 

I appreciate all the encouragement. At first, I thought, "Woowee, I posted all of the Lenker edition of Luther's sermons." Later I realized sermons should be out front each week, all the better to cite in sermons.

Many have expressed their appreciation of the Luther sermons appearing each week on this blog and also on Facebook. No one dares to oppose Justification by Faith, although they could by emailing me or by responding on Facebook. That does not mean they are convinced by the Word, only that they no longer imagine defeating Christian doctrine with their lies and puerile insults.

"Luther on faith, or Scaer?
I will get back to you on this."

---

Can't get enough of this stuff! More from the same sermon.

71. However, Christ is not silent upon the point, to whom will he grant

salvation. He says: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” And again: “He that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” Naught else can help or hinder; no difference of person or station avails; one being is as dear to him as another. Only that one believes and desires baptism, will avail to save. All who are disciples or hearers of this message must so learn.

72. Preachers and teachers must see to it that they preach and teach

faithfully, and, as St. Paul says, shrink not from declaring the whole

counsel of God, Acts 20:27, that the hearers may know what God

demands and has decreed concerning them. All the world has always

desired, searched and sought to know this, but no one ever attained such

knowledge, till it was revealed from heaven through Christ. It is embodied

in this message. We should no longer seek nor expect any other revelation.

Here it may be clearly perceived that the Gospel itself is witness that the

Word of preaching and the sacraments are the means by which you may

know God’s decree concerning yourself. If you believe the message, you

shall be saved. But if you do not believe, then it is also decreed that you

shall come under the judgment of condemnation, no matter how earnestly

you may have sought, by your works and deeds, to obtain salvation.

Though you had accomplished all the works and wonders of angels and

men, it would be unavailing. The whole world is hereby divided into two

classes, entirely separated from each other, the one for heaven and the

other for hell. On the last day no other judgment shall be pronounced than that in accordance with this message, namely, the reward of belief or

disbelief.

The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2017. Luke 2:41-52.

The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2017

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 10 AM Central Standard Time

The Hymn # 277                 I Heard the Voice       

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             Romans 12:1-5
The Gospel                                 Luke 2:41-52       
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Hymn #660              Heaven Is My Home  

God Reveals Himself in Christ

The Hymn #130            O Jesus King of Glory    

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 #267                    If God Had Not                       

KJV Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

http://www.normaboecklerart.com

God Reveals Himself in Christ

KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 

These historical notes in the narrative fill in details that we should not take for granted. Going to Jerusalem was a regular part of the family's plans, so Jesus was exposed to the city and Jerusalem saw Him every year, although they did not know the importance of that at first.

This bears on His trial, because Jesus was not a stranger but a regular visitor, including during His public minister.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 

In his sermon Luther emphasizes that Mary had many sorrows in her life, starting with His birth in a strange town and the neglect of the family during such a trying time for anyone, especially a new mother. The path toward her blessed eternal life was marked with the cross, which is a lesson for everyone. No believer is spared, though many run from it.

To give Jesus time to reveal His divinity to the Jewish leaders, these events had to happen. No one can imagine saying, "You go on your way. I will stay and talk to the leaders of Israel about their future - and Mine."

To carry out His work, God has certain events happen, which seem to annoy and inflict pain upon believers, although it is ultimately good for all people. What seems to be indifference on God's part is actually His love. If God were controlled and limited by our wishes, He would not be God and countless blessings would be hidden or gone from our grasp.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

This is a story that any child can understand because children do these things on their own and become aware of the fright of their parents. So there is no better way to instill the drama of this event on children or upon the parents who remember something similar - or even scarier.

We have friends whose little girl left the house and ended up in the middle of the busiest street. Needless to say, that put them in a panic. I asked the girl, "Weren't you afraid of the cars?" She said calmly, "No they zoomed around me." 

Likewise our neighbor's boy escaped his house went over to play with the neighbor's pitbulls (through the fence openings). He got confused as he headed back and went to the busiest intersection a block away. Sassy and I power-walked to him and led him back to his mother. A driver also moved his car to keep the tiny boy from waking into traffic. When we got home and the mother realized the father was not doing his job of watching at the moment, we heard a stream of Laotian words across the street for a long time.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 

In just a few words we have an explanation for this taking place with Jesus. Joseph and Mary assumed Jesus was in the group traveling back, with his cousins and friends. They did not look for Him for an entire day. That meant the way back was uphill (an important detail) and filled with frantic seeking for the lost boy.

Luther:
3. One of them is related here, when her son caused her so much anxiety, by tarrying behind in the temple and letting her seek him so long, and she could not find him. This alarmed and grieved her so that she almost despaired, as her words indicate: “Behold, thy father and I, sought thee sorrowing.” For we may well imagine that thoughts like these may have passed through her mind: “Behold this child is only mine, this I know very well, and I know that God has entrusted him to me and commanded me to take care of him; why is it then that he is taken from me? It is my fault, for I have not sufficiently taken care of him and guarded him. Perhaps God does not deem me worthy to watch over this child and will take him from me again.” She was undoubtedly greatly frightened and her heart trembled and was filled with grief.

4. Here you see what she experienced. Although she is the mother of a child in whom she might have gloried before all mothers, and although her joy was immeasurably greater than any she had ever felt, yet you perceive how God deprives her of all happiness, in that she can no longer call herself the mother of Jesus. In her great dismay she probably wished, she had never known her child and was tempted to greater sins than any mother had ever committed.

5. In the same manner the Lord our God can take from us our joy and comfort, if he so desires, and cause us the greatest sorrow with the very things that are our greatest joy, and, on the other hand, give us the greatest delight in the things that terrify us most. For it was the greatest joy of Mary that she was the mother of this child, but now he has become the cause of her greatest sorrow. Thus we are afraid of nothing more than of sin and death, yet God can comfort us so that we may boast, as St. Paul says in Romans 7, that sin served to the end that we became justified and that we longed for death and desire to die.

 The foreground is wreckage from the Joplin tornado,
a few years ago - 2011.

Luther understood and appreciated the paradoxical (seemingly contradictory) truths of the Word of God. He did not understand parental grief entirely until he experienced it himself. He realized in his life that God allows believers to suffer so that they long for eternal life rather than clinging to the material blessings of this life. Unbelievers want to live forever and fear death. Some famous people have had themselves flash frozen so they can thaw out in a better world.

One of our friends, the daughter of a classmate, has a special child with a severe disability. I often write to her family about appreciating such children all the more for their disabilities.

In fact, parents have loved seeing their children meet Sassy, who is so gentle, loving, and happy, in spite of having only three legs.

So here, in this lesson, we have a unique family with a problem all too common for most parents - a child is lost. Suddenly, nothing else matters. They are weighed down and consumed by the task of finding the child again.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 

First they asked around in the most logical places. "Has anyone seen our boy?" Each "no" creates even more anguish. I have to mention - again - that my family left my sister at a gas station. I noticed the absence of her voice and said so. My mother said - assuming - "She is in the front seat with you." I said, "No she is not." During that time driving and all the way back, with no phones, my sister was wondering if we would return. Likewise, my parents were in a lather about being forgetful.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 

They used their logic to find Him and that compounded their anxiety. Not having an answer only increases the fears and fuels the imagination. Three days passed before they searched in the least likely place - the great Temple. There was Jesus listening to the great scholars and talking to them.

We can see with great clarity that this was God's plan, that Jesus reveal Himself to the leaders of Israel, to increase the knowledge of the Messiah being present and prepare them for His ministry. The first manifestation was His presentation in the Temple. This is the second one. To give the leaders of Israel a complete understanding of Jesus as the Son of David, God gave them days to hear Him and and ask Him questions.

We can see how this event bore fruit later, although it gave Joseph and Mary great sorrow. Nicodemus was a leader among them and came to
Jesus at night...secretly. Jesus converted him through the spoken Word.

John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

Isaiah 53: 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 

This fulfilled the Scriptures that the Messiah would die in a horrible way, for our sins, as a criminal, and yet be buried as a rich man.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 

This is an important climax to the story, because we see once again that the Word provides a remedy against future false doctrine. The Mary, Queen of Heaven, Queen of Purgatory language of Romanism and Eastern Orthodoxy contradicts the clear testimony of the Scriptures. Mary was uniquely blessed, but she was a sinner like us and prone to the same weaknesses and temptations we are.

The Roman dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (featured in The Song of Bernadette) teaches that Mary never committed an actual sin her entire life. When I asked an Eastern Orthodox priest about this, he dithered and dodged and finally admitted they agreed with Rome about this and Purgatory.

Luther:
13. The words of Luke “and they understood not the saying which he spake unto them” are especially to be noted here. With these words he silenced the idle talk of those who exalted and praised the Virgin Mary too highly, asserting that she knew everything and could not err. For you see here how the Lord permits her to seek her child for a long time in vain, till she finds him in the temple after three days. In addition to this, Jesus seems to reprimand her when he says: “How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house?” She understood not the saying which he spake to her. Consequently all the idle talk to which we have referred is nothing but falsehood, and the Virgin Mary does not need this fabricated and mendacious praise. God concealed much from her and led her through many trials, so that she might remain humble and not think herself better than others.

30. Let us then be prepared for their representations and expostulations to the effect that the Christian church can not err, so that we may know how to meet them, and say: Here is not the word of man, but the Word of God.

We read in this Gospel that his mother, Mary, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and yet she erred. Likewise we read in the Acts that there was a Christian council of such who believed and who had the Spirit, and yet they stumbled and would have established an unchristian law, if others had not protested. We should therefore not believe any council or, saint, if they come without the Word of God. This is then the sum total of this Gospel, and if anything else is to be said on it, we will let those explain it who have leisure; but he who studies it faithfully, will easily understand it.

Besides that, it is good to note that Luther did grow up with the cult of Mary and continued in some of that language, but he did not stay with it as the Gospel permeated all of his teaching. Roman Catholics use ignorance about Luther to attract pastors and laity into this belief, that Luther also taught the same things then as they do now.

If Mary and the Council of Jerusalem could err, then are current synods are equally capable of error. "Synod says" is not the same as "The Word of God says" and people must remember that. The Bereans tested all teaching with the Word, and we must keep that as the only ultimate authority.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Mary was  with the apostles in Jerusalem, and Luke wrote Acts, so we see a continuity with Luke-Acts and the family-like tone of these two works.