Learning and Teaching a Theme of the Bible

Start with John 16 - or -

Isaiah 55.

If someone can get the dogmatics statements past these two anchor points of the Bible, well done! But the mountain of garbage being foisted on Lutherans today cannot pass the test.

The Holy Spirit passages judge everything written or taught by man.

The neo-quasi-semi-demi Lutherans want to talk about Jesus, but what does Jesus say about sin and forgiveness? The foundation of sin is unbelief. Forgiveness comes through faith in Jesus.

What is the work of the apostles, the Church, the Holy Spirit? Their work is to preach against unbelief. Hold that stick of UOJ-margarine up to the light of the Scriptures, and the faux-spread melts away, looking more like paint than food.

Appeal to their felt needs (Kelm) - No. Gather friends for them (Valleskey) - No. Teach them they were born forgiven (LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC sic) - No.

If we are utterly convinced from the Word that the Spirit is always at work in the Word and never apart from the Word, we know to use the only powerful and effective Shield and Weapon.

The Spirit passages of the Bible are also in harmony with the passages about the Word. Our confidence grows in the Spirit-Word combination when we see its astonishing power. Pious, flabby milquetoast synod officials fly into a rage, and the blind-in-doctrine see. Uncountable blessings follow and so does the cross.

The clergy have been taught and seduced into thinking that blessings will follow their obedience to Holy Mother Sect. I have seen them dart their eyes around in fear when something forbidden was discussed - like apostasy, DP and SP crimes. What if someone hears me? They are afraid of DP Jellybelly but not God! DP Jellybelly will feed him, but God will walk away?

I want all the SPs to be re-elected until their work crumbles around them. No one seeking office will make anything different, but the power of the Spirit in the Word is so great that the Word alone can do what God wills, often in seconds, sometimes over decades and centuries.

Biblical Theology versus Dogmatics

From WM:

Brethren: Please note: The "discovery" mentioned below is not meant to ignore the fact that at least some of the rest of you were already aware of this information before me:

I was just checking Article IV of the Augsburg Confession-- which of course does NOT teach UOJ as part of the Scriptural and Lutheran doctrine of Justification--and suddenly realized that its explicit citation of Romans Chapters 3 & 4 to support the teaching of JBFA as the Scriptural and Lutheran doctrine of Justification thereby automatically REJECTS the use of those Chapters to teach UOJ--which (to repeat) is NOT taught by the Article concerning the doctrine of Justification in the Augsburg Confession, Article IV. 

So, if someone claims to be a "confessional Lutheran" and tries to teach UOJ from Romans 3 & 4, they are automatically REJECTING how the Augsburg Confession uses those Chapters to teach the Scriptural doctrine of Justification, JBFA.

And please notice that the explicit citation of Rom. 3 & 4 at the end of AC IV should cover the WHOLE CHAPTERS, and should NOT exclude any verse or verses to teach ANY other "form" of Justification in addition to the Scriptural doctrine of JBFA which is clearly taught in AC IV.

If I am wrong about any of this, please correct me.  --WM

***

GJ -

You are correct. That is why the real Biblical theologians combine true Scriptural exegesis with their doctrinal summaries. I was thinking about that all day today. What is great about Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz? They wrote this same way. It is not so much true with the Gerhard I have read. 

I use the term dogmatics in a derogatory way (as many do) because the dogmatic style is to state theses and simply list Biblical citations, many of which contradict the thesis. As Wilson said at Yale about JEDP, "If the facts do not fit the theory, then what do you do with the theory?"

One person said weakly, "Get rid of it?" That was 1972 at Yale. I doubt whether anyone takes JEDP (the Documentary Hypothesis) seriously in academic circles.

Theory and thesis are closely related. Theory is the way one looks at a topic. A thesis is a statement about it. Note the addiction of CFW Walther to theses - such as in his Law and Gospel lectures.

Walther is deductive. He states his "truth," then adds his warrants for declaring those truths. The Book of Concord is inductive, using the mysteries (revelations) of Scripture to build its witness to the Truth. 

 Norma A. Boeckler

The Brief Statement of 1932 is similar on Justification. 

"Scripture teaches that God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ, Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Rom. 4:25..."

The three Biblical passages do not fit the thesis at all, and Romans 4:24 guts the essence of UOJ - Justification without Faith. What follows in the B.S. then contradicts what was just stated. The 1987 Theses of the LCMS are similar.

I believe Robert Preus first  charged into OJ, loyal to that faction in the Norwegians and ossified in the ELS. However, he had vast reading knowledge of the "orthodox" theologians, who became increasingly Pietistic. The statements he gathered in Justification and Rome struck me as his favorite authors contradicting the OJ of Pietism.

Where did the dogmatic approach begin? I respect Gerhard, because Chemnitz worked with him. However, Johann Gerhard (not the hymn writer, Paul Gerhardt) adopted a more dogmatic and verbose method which began the downhill slide among Lutherans, prompted no doubt by the polemical and insulting Calvinist academics.

 Norma A. Boeckler

Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz

The pillars of the Reformation were three genius Biblical scholars - Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz. They dominate the Book of Concord, which should be read as a one-volume Biblical commentary (and obviously is not).

These three men explained Christian teaching through their Biblical studies. They were experts in the Biblical languages (unlike Walther) and not dogmaticians. True, Melanchthon started a bit along that way with his Loci (topics), but the era of giant textbooks came later.

The Augsburg Confession and the exquisite Apology section on Justification are perfect examples of Melanchthon's Biblical style. Dost thou wonder why he is completely ignored today? second only to Luther and just a little ahead of Chemnitz in being read.

The Synodical Conference hates the faith, content, and method of the three giants of the Reformation. If anyone doubts this, simply look at the sick, bedraggled, coach-clowns of Lutheran Church Growth. They will coax you out of your personal troubles, your cash, your estate, and perhaps your clothes, too. 

Long ago I told WELS DP Robert Mueller: "My members came back from Florida. They said the only way they could tell a congregation was WELS was from the sign outside." That made him angry...at me. Now the WELS church sign is more likely to say Illuminati or HappyPoint Gathering.

 Thy Strong Word

TSW - Eyes Wide Open

I followed the advice of Egbert Schaller, the forgotten Schaller, and decided to make my final book one where all the points were derived directly from Scripture. That came out in 2000, so I did not have enough character to stop writing.

I had about 3,000 verbatim quotations to use from sources, good and evil, but I could not rely on them as the framework. If I wanted to deal with the efficacy of the Word, I had to show from the Scriptures that efficacy is always taught in the Word of God. I found out that:

1. The New Testament word group is almost universally ignored.
2. The modern Lutherans are either silent or ignorant about efficacy.
3. UOJ, the enemy of efficacy, is straight out of Pietism.

Since then I have not seen any official effort to teach Biblically, but a lot of effort to work with ELCA and do some chest pounding about how terrible ELCA is...compared to them. The hypocrisy is even more strident than the sanctimony.

Now read Romans 4.
When was Abraham counted forgiven, righteous?

Do Not Use the Feeble Weapons of the Apostates

The only way to unseat the evil promulgation of false doctrine - little more than a "conservative" spin on ELCA Universalism - is to avoid my dogma versus your dogma.

The best and most convincing teacher is the Spirit in the Word. Quoting Luther against Walther will not matter because the audience does not know the Scriptures. Once they are led through Romans 4, they can no longer claim any verses in Romans 4 for UOJ. And there goes Paul as their foundational OJ expert.

Jay Webber used Luther as his foil because he knew the LCMS-ELS-WELS audience was even more ignorant of Luther than he was - and is. Knowledge of Biblical languages? - zero.

Jay's pal, DP Jon-Boy Buchholz - his great sect essay on UOJ was a big pile of theses. Only a nobody from an unknown and unknowing sect be so proud of his dogma.

Each person who witnesses to Justification by Faith must rest that upon the Word of God, which is challenging and fulfilling. I give Brett Meyer a lot of credit for finding the best JBFA material and the worst UOJ statements to force me into thinking through the entire issue - all the arguments, citations, experts, and lies.

For example - where do we start? It has to be Genesis 15:6 and its relationship to Romans 4 and the references to Abraham in the New Testament. Study those passages along and UOJ melts down faster than a Dairy Queen cone in August.

John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

Hypocritical Fellowship Rules for the Cultish WELS and Superior LCMS

 WELS-ELS favorites: Andy Stanley below promotes homosexual unions; Archbishop Weakland, beanie, known homosexual, spoke at Wisconsin Lutheran College - public program, including priests; Hybels at Willow Creek, above Andy, retired early for chasing women staff members around; McGavran, above left of Hybels, was a mainline liberal, Disciples of Christ; Leonard Sweet, upper right off McGavran's ear, Leftie weirdo mainline guru; Stetzer, dead center, Fulleroid Babtist; C. Peter Wagner, right of Stetzer, Pentecostal Fuller faculty and always behind true flapdoodle snake oil ministers; 12 o'clock, Mark Driscoll, Ski-Glende fave - failed but retreaded cult minister known for his violent language; left at 11 o'clock, another Ski-Glende fave, Craig Groeschel, mainline producer of much-copied themes, sermons, graphics, as found at The CORE.

Note the above experts - WELS has been heavily involved with them for decades, which is why the sect is no longer Lutheran. Their teachers and leaders are trained by the Enthusiasts above, most of whom have made a shipwreck of their faith.

Comment:

People at the WELS church I used to attend (and readers of my blog at the time) became UNHINGED (emphasis in the original) when I provided details of Thrivent funding Planned Parenthood and by application, WELS responsibility for funding abortion.  There was no argument with the facts, just what they meant.

 When I said that WELS gave to the United Nations, some went bonkers and demanded proof. Do they demand proof for WELS-LCMS lies? Never. So I provided the year and page number of the Michigan District grant to a UN program, about $5,000, as I recall. No apologies followed, of course.

Thrivent gives LCMS $50 to $60 million a year, so ELCA probably gets $100 million for promoting a rather drab insurance company. Thrivent dollar-matched abortion fans on the staff (charity, you know). ELCA is one big abortion lobby and actually hires lobbyists with World Hunger Fund donations. They are all in it together, trotters in the trough - pennies for the local church, millions for abortion on demand and doctrinal apostasy. Herman Otten applied for and received a Thrivent grant. 

 But wait, there's more. Jeske uses his Thrivent board membership to fund his favorite charities, often involving Mark and Avoid Jeske. He gathers ELCA women pastors to lecture LCMS and WELS-ELS pastors on how to be Change or Die! ministers.

 I have played Whac-A-Mole many times, except I was always the mole.

Sears-KMart Collapse Foreshadows WELS-LCMS Merger

 Lutherans who do not trust the Word imagine they will do better in a cardboard tank manufactured by the Calvinists and improved by the Pentecostals.

The Sears-KMart merger combined the power of two retail giants, one very old, one somewhat new. The latest bailout failed and Sears will liquidate.

WELS and Missouri are negotiating a peace, brokered through Thrivent and ELCA. The obvious issue is redundancy. They threw tons of money at buildings while local teaching on a campus was giving way to online. The Schwan money built a lot of gee-gaws that everyone could have lived without. Meanwhile, the tuition was hiked to gobble as money loan money as possible.

Nimble businesses plan to darken under-used properties or move to more prosperous locations.

The apostate Lutheran leaders looked backwards rather than forward, proving once again that they ignored the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward. They are as wise as doves, as innocent as serpents.

They coveted the hyped growth of certain congregations that focused on no confessions and plenty of entertainment. As one local Evangelical minister said to others, "The worship leader is the key." They nodded their heads collectively. That built Community of Joy and liquidated the parish when the pastor came to his senses.

The aging, sclerotic, sagging Boomers that lead WELS-LCMS are spectacular failures who have grabbed power, spent money like Congress, and hollowed out their sects. Their parishes are bad copies of CG-Missional ones, mockeries of Lutheran, Biblical, Means of Grace worshiping congregations. One can aim at material success or Biblical fidelity. The first brings the religion editor to marvel at the numbers. The second brings the cross.

I lost track of how many years we have broadcast services over the Net, - King James readings, The Lutheran Hymnal, Mr. Bose on the pipe organ. We are in our 10th year broadcasting from a spare room in a rented house. Too bad we did not adopt the name Bethlehem Lutheran, which might have spared us the wrath of Paul the Plagiarist. Before that we were in a mortgaged house, that is, rented from the bank.

We had a group of people who wanted to participate, so the service was for traditional Lutherans. No one expected much, except to continue faithful worship, about 60 Means of Grace services a year. In the last two years, quite a few have joined us part of them (because they have good local congregations) or joined us for good (since a traditional service is almost impossible to find). We spent very little money since the place and equipment were part of my normal online teaching.

A lot has happened in the last few years. I will add to this later today.

The Fuller Seminary faculty recently met, "Why have we stopped growing?"

Luther's Household Sermons - Our Next Publication

 Jesus declared the true nature of God - exegesis - John 1.
The wealthy omnivores only want wealth and food in abundance.

From the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry -
Just read the following in Luther’s House Postil for Epiphany. In the earlier sections of the sermon, Luther compares Herod with spiritual leaders who emphasize the Law and believe that their following of that Law makes faith superfluous and unnecessary.

Do you see any parallels with Lutheranism and/or modern Evangelicalism today?

[Emphasis added]

[135] Human works and doctrines at all times yield much revenue and carnal gain, while the doctrines of God and the work of Christ bring the cross, poverty, ignominy, and all kinds of calamity, which the holiness of Herod can not endure. Thus it happens always, that they who have ensnared and oppressed the poor with an erring conscience and with human doctrines, do not like to hear that poor, miserable consciences receive instruction, attain a right understanding, and seek the simple, pure Word of God and faith. Many say that they want a new king, and have seen his star; for thus the pope, bishops, holy fathers and lords could not indulge their carnal desires.

[136] Therefore, it is not at all agreeable nor serviceable to the reign of Herod that the wise men, the learned, the laity, who know nothing, should begin to speak of the light of the Gospel, and to inquire about another matter in the midst of Jerusalem, paying no attention to spiritual pomp of the rulers. This must indeed have frightened Herod and his associates because it concerned their purses and their belly. Yes, it also frightened all Jerusalem; for many pious people, though they hated the reign of Herod and wished that it were not thus, also were afraid that the truth might be brought to light at an unpropitious time, that through it a tumult and confusion might be caused in the world, that the government might be attacked, and that perhaps this tumult could not without great detriment, be suppressed. Therefore they thought that it might be better to withhold the truth for a time, or to bring it forth in such a manner as not to frighten Herod, and arouse him to some desperate action.

 Cat: "Cute, but I need a fire."

Todd Wilken Retweets

 Wilken meeting with the Confraternity of Matt Immaculatus:
1- "That alb will not stretch another millimeter!"
2 - "He's applying to be a fit model for Friar Tuck clergy apparel."
3 - "Shh. He is composing The Ballad of Herman Otten. Top Secret."

Did Wilken retweet this because he has seen the error of his ways? He chuckled about Justification by Faith and called it "Calvinism."

 "Yes, Todd, I have a complete set of worn out Luther's Sermons. They make quite an impression on the hoi polloi."

Comment from a Reader

Ichabod: "WELS followed LCMS over to Fuller and down the drain."

Reader: "They did and look where we are. We passed the drain and are now at the sewage treatment facility."

 "I hate, I mean, LOVE the NIV, our official living Bible 
paraphrase."

Funniest or Saddest Lutheran Posts - Part III: Dead Last Lutherans (Steadfast) - An International Fraternity of Confessional Apostates

Anyone who posts on the Steadfast Lutheran political site - set up to promote Matt the Fatt - is admitting to doctrinal illiteracy and confessional apostasy. But this group is "international."

Are women in fraternities? The editors did not take Latin. Some women are there to teach the beta males, so it is really a sorority.

The Preus clan has its own private publishing outfit, and this is their own website, which they share with those who submit to the dogmatic verities of Bishop Martin Stephan, STD.

The posts are 100% Objective Justification and 0% Lutheran, so "confessional" must mean for them - "I admit it. I am a moron who never studied, never opened a Bible, never read Luther."

When Steadfast covered up for the LCMS and the sex offender,
by erasing all the posts about his crimes, did anyone quit writing for them?

 The case was consigned to the Know Nuffin file. No one knows nuffin about it.
Ken Remember is the archivist.

CPH clearance items below!
Did McCain ever work for Walter Drake?
Concordia Publishing House now has a Walter Drake ambiance.

 But the CPH gimmicks are great. Thanks for distracting us from the Reformation's 500th Anniversary, Paul and Matt.

Funniest or Saddest Lutheran Posts, Part II - ALPB

Retired DP Benke was fired for joining an all-religions service at Yankee Stadium, where he was not invited, and for offering a non-Christian prayer. But he was reinstated and Wallace Schulz was fired. So there.

ALPB.org (Ancient Lutheran Pastors Bellyaching) - Their online forum is another one of those trivia discussion sites where the participants congratulate themselves on their powerful and beneficial effect on Lutherdom. If that means helping me embark on a well-deserved nap, I agree.

Their latest offering began with David Benke writing about Christian News. You may recall that Benke is the only LCMS pastor more ecumenical than Otten. I would summarize it, but the post made no sense. However, it began a discussion on their favorite tabloid and how it has no impact. This now occupies 24 pages, wandering around about various related and unrelated topics.

This community of scholars - pause for laughter - does not make their case for "no longer important" when everyone adds a few more posts.

I applaud anyone who posts a doctrinal opinion and backs it up with research. It would be best if every Lutheran pastor posted his or her or its sermons. The printed word reveals so much.

But notice how strong is the urge to silence someone. I speak from experience (CPH, NPH, CN, Dead Last Lutherans, LCA, WELS, LCMS, CLC sic, ELDONUTS book-burning, etc.) Benke suggested putting Otten on the roster once he shut down CN, then moving him to the retired list.

This may seem disruptive, but I advocate starting with the plain meaning of the Word of God. Paul welcomed division, to prove which side was correct. The modern Lutheran approach (all sects, especially the ELDONUTS) is to feign harmony by getting rid of any one who wants to discuss an issue.

Luther understood this issue of separating the good from the bad, because it was common in his time (and ours, but few know it) to move infested flour away from the good flour. If that is not done, thousands of moths will hatch in the future and feed from any form of food they can, even the dried flowers at the bottom of an empty vase.

Is that not the case with Barth, Fuller Seminary, and Church Growth? The most influential school in American Lutheranism and all denominations is Fuller. Those pesky moths are everywhere and multiplying by infesting students, church members, and synocracies with their idiotic, anti-Christian notions.

What did these jolly fellows - ELCA, LCMS, plus an atheist - do to stop the Barth-Fuller cancer? Nothing.

 CPH shot glass.

Funniest or Saddest Posts among Lutherans

 After.

Hilarious gun videos - after.

 Before - Paul McCain's Roman Catholic training - as solid as a Jesuit.

Herman Otten's Christian News complained that Paul McCain was an "unelected ruler" in the LCMS. Who made that happen? Herman Otten did. He arranged with Paul McCain to get early copies of Al Barry material, turning the unknown DP into the Synod President. Paul and Herman separately bragged about their methods to me: both also denied to everyone that they worked secretly (almost secretly) together. If Herman had told the truth, McCain would now be chanting the Rosary in an ELS parish in Northern Minnesota.

 Matt Harrison, Before.

After, with dewlap.

In running a secret campaign with McCain, Otten helped get Barry elected. Likewise, Otten did not reveal The Ballad of Herman Otten sung to him by Harrison himself in that campaign. Once elected, Matt rewarded McCain, who suddenly became more visible again. Unfortunately, McCain's plagiarized Roman Catholic blog is now invisible.

 Which is funnier? - Preus is against high church, or,
Heiser is against Objective Justification?
Or Otten is for Walter A. Maier? or is it OJ?

The Feast of the Epiphany. January 6, 2019.

The Feast of the Epiphany, 2019

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 10 AM Central Standard Time

The Hymn #126      Arise and Shine in Splendor                        

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual           
The Gospel                                 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #128   Brightest and Best

The Star of Bethlehem

 
The Hymn #127        As With Gladness Men of Old

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 #646         Silent Night

EPIPHANY

Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast given us the light of Thy holy word, the guiding star, which leadeth us to the Christ-child: Send, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive this light and make use of it unto our salvation, and that we, like the wise men, when they were seeking the star, may not be afraid because of any hardship or peril, but put all our trust in Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, as our only Savior; devote our earthly possessions to the advancement of Thy kingdom, and in all things serve Him, Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.                    

Isaiah 60 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.

Matthew 2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Background for Sermon
I posted a page of theories about the Star of Bethlehem. When Kepler presented it as historical fact, he was labeled a "mystic," which was the term the rationalists used for those who believed the Bible to be God's Word. Later the term Pietist was added, so the state churches of Europe were largely divided among the rationalists in control and the believers who chafed against the official, well paid clergy. They formed Bible study cell groups, which they considered the real church. America's Lutheran church bodies all came from this cell group Pietism. Because Pietism avoids doctrinal confessions, the loyalists move into rationalism easily, as they did at Halle University (Henry Muhlenberg, Adolph Hoenecke, and Walther's Bishop Martin Stephan, STD). 

We are in a similar situation, where the official clergy are highly paid rationalists who trust surveys, data, trends, and man-made solutions versus the deplorables who argue for the inerrancy of the Bible and Justification by Faith. LCMS-WELS moved easily from their Pietistic origin into an age of rationalism and are now stuck there, nothing of value growing from their sterile weed seeds.

I am fascinated by the Star of Bethlehem for many reasons, including hearing it dismissed as a fable when I was growing up. I had a decades-long interest in astronomy until our neighbor's need for yard illumination ended the fun. My 7 foot tall telescope attracted a lot of attention.

The Star is a scandalon - a faith death trap - for many. One astronomer was angry that planetariums were using Star of Bethlehem programs to attract enormous crowds every December. He did not address its truthfulness, just that awful pandering to the public. The facts remain exactly as they are. By looking at ancient records, scientists can determine that various events would have riveted the attention of those living at that time, for several reasons.

One is simple - in the night sky of a desert country with no artificial illumination worth mentioning, every star, planet, moon, and sky event is looked upon with the greatest interest and general knowledge. I dare people to identify the most obvious stars and planets today, especially with city-glow, clouds, and general lack of interest. We are astronomy illiterate today, and less than Hottentots - in comparison to the ancients.

Secondly - the ancients saw the future in the night sky and they assumed God or gods at work. Are not our planets named after Greek/Roman gods? My favorite recent gardening book is The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Luna-tic Farmer. We still say moonstruck and even have a popular Cher movie by that name. People are over the moon about grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We experienced two times when people brought up sky events repeatedly. One was in Sturgis, Michigan (1970s), when Jupiter and Mars traveled in the night sky together for a long time. Everyone kept asking, "What is that?" as if Jupiter and Mars had been newly added. And "How do you know?" The other was the Hale-Bopp comet, which was impossible to miss (1997), which moved me to write a short story based on it. Everyone got wide-eyed and asked, "Did you see the comet?"

The Calvinists rely on human reason to prove the Bible is true. The consequence of trust in human wisdom is a loss of faith when the evidence is factual rather than Scriptural. That is why it is so difficult to discuss doctrine with those who are trained to be loyal to synodical stars rather than the Word, which is ignored for contradicting what sect's celebrities have claimed. No one seems to notice the parallel with Pharisaical dogma.

When we start with the Biblical concept of the Holy Spirit teaching us the mysteries of the Faith (Creation, the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, the Atonement, Resurrection, and Ascension) then we will find all kinds of corroboration in the Bible and in the world around us. For example, the Bible teaches a six-24 hour-day Creation and a day of rest. Various leaders have tried to lengthen the week by making it 10 days, but that has not worked. Why do we all use a seven-day week, world-wide?

America's laws are based upon "the laws of Nature and of Nature's God." 

The Declaration of Independence of 1776 established the premise that in America a people might assume the station "to which the laws of Nature and Nature's God entitle them.." Herein lay the security for men's individual rights - an immut­able code of law, sanctioned by the Creator of man's rights, and designed to promote, preserve, and protect him and his fellows in the enjoyment of their rights.

The Star of Bethlehem

Matthew 2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Some odd assumptions need to be brushed aside. Wise Men from the East - that is not specific, so having them arrive years after the birth of Jesus is rather absurd. The ancients must have been better at higher math than most of us, because they could predict astronomical events. They combined knowledge of the sky with the concept of revelation. One theory is that they saw the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn as predicting a king (Jupiter) in Judea (Saturn). The Wise Men had a clear idea of the message, and God moved them to go to the ruler who would be most jealous of this message.

The Wise Men would have known that Judea was no longer ruled by a descendant of David, so a clear marker was Herod on the throne, a king of the Jews and yet not a Jew.

Luther:
2. The Evangelist first refers to Herod the king, in order to recall the prophecy of Jacob the patriarch, who said: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.” Genesis 4:9-10.

From this prophecy is evident that Christ must come, when the kingdom or government of the Jews is taken from them, so that no other king or ruler from the house of Judah might sit on the throne. This was fulfilled now when Herod, who was not of the house of Judah, nor of Jewish descent but of Edom, hence a foreigner, was made king over the Jews by the Romans to the great dissatisfaction of the Jewish people. Hence for thirty years he warred with them before he finally silenced and subdued them.

So it is not enough to agree there was a Star of Bethlehem, but also to see that the scholars saw it as confirming the Genesis prediction. These events are in keeping with God's method of giving people a chance to believe in the Messiah. Some people grieve that not all are saved, but often the worst persecutors (in pagan lands and in denominations) are those with the greatest opportunity to hear the Gospel and believe.

The Star could have led the Wise Men for a long time, if they came from a distance, before Jesus was born. Or, they might have come a short distance just as the event was fixing everyone's attention on the sky. It would have been the talk of all those who saw, because no one could miss the unusual event. They knew it meant something. And it confirmed the experience of the shepherds as well. So the Gospel was revealed to the Jews first - the shepherds - and then to the Gentiles - the Wise Men.

These sages came "to worship him," a concept that would have been an immediate crisis for Herod. In Alexander's time, he wanted to be treated as a god, with people kneeling and blowing kisses to him. To tell Herod that his replacement was already born - that would terrify him. If anyone worshiped Herod, it was not willingly.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

"And all Jerusalem with him." Messianic expectations were high, so much that they risked war with the Roman Empire roughly 70 years later. Herod believed enough in the Scriptures to ask when this blessed event would happen. It is good to remember that the Greek Septuagint (Old Testament), any person educated in Greek could know what God promised. Now we have that in our own language and many ignore the Old Testament as full of Law and condemnations, forgetting all the Messianic Promises and blessings.

Troubled means shaken to such an extent that an answer must be provided. For the entire city and kingdom, a revolt was entirely possible. As they said at the trial of Jesus, the soldiers will come in and take everything away from us.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Lenski, Matthew, p. 63:
Yet we note the hand of God in the providence which has put the Sanhedrin of the Jews, its highest religious authority, back of the Scriptural finding that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, and that the Old Testament so declares in Micah 5:2. The very great value of this providence Matthew felt when he wrote this Gospel for Jewish readers. Every Jew down to this day is faced by Micah 5:2 and the Sanhedrin's answer to Herod. The Messiah is an individual not the Jewish nation itself. His birth must occur in Bethlehem and nowhere else. If Jesus is not this Messiah, then let the Jew tell us what Micah 5:2 means and let him contradict both this prophet and his own Sanhedrin if he will.

So we can see in this passage from Micah that Bethlehem and the Messiah were connected for centuries. Thus the birth in Bethlehem was not a surprise but a long-awaited event, with the Star as an additional witness.

When people want to argue how many Wise Men arrived or exactly when they arrived or where they came from, the argumentative are avoiding the message in the Word of God. God reveals with certainty that everything has been planned in advance; therefore, we must trust God's wisdom and guidance, seeing how perfectly He manages the world - as He has for thousands of years.

While one verse or incident in the Bible may seem to trip us up and fall away from faith, hundreds of verses in harmony accomplish the opposite. All support one another, so we can see how they weave together like a mesh. That is why it is so important to see the Scriptures as one Truth from God, teaching faith in the Savior, not as an interesting historical book with poems, stories, and parables.

My online class had a question about What Would Jesus Do? - which is a fad that comes and goes from time to time. I pointed out that Jesus is our Example in everything, but if we concentrate on doing alone, we become legalistic. Some simply divorce faith from action and say, "It does not matter what we believe; we can all work together."

Emphasizing faith in the Savior first and foremost, our actions are guided and energized by the Gospel Word. 

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Herod is like many hypocrites, who want to use believers to get their way. Thus many rulers and rich people have used the Church as a shield for the evil. Herod only wants to stop this newborn king from taking over his throne. That was the political fear of the Roman rulers. However, the Jewish leaders opposed the religious claims of Jesus and in the Gospel of John accused Him of calling Himself the Son of God.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Rationalists make fun of this description, and some attribute it to a conjunction of the planets that came together, drifted apart, and came together again. Planet is from Greek, which means wanderer, since they wander in the sky compared to stars. We see in the text that this Star - no Mapquest, no directions, no help from locals, no GPS - took them to where Jesus was. Yes, this was just as miraculous as the pillar of fire and smoke that guided Israel.

The miraculous means outside of the normal laws of physics and nature. If we do not believe in the miraculous, then we must jettison angels, who intervene (not just in movies), the Feeding of the Multitude, the Real Presence, prayer, and forgiveness. Once man leans on his own understanding, he abandons the basics of the Christian Faith, something we see in all religious apostates, from the current Pope on up.

When an astronomer says "The conjunction of planets fits this description," we cannot rest our faith on his assurance, but on the plain meaning of the text. If he wants to think so, fine, but the Bible judges all books - the books do not judge the Bible.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

There is no claim that they were still in the stable, because some time could have passed, for the purification rites, for example. Nevertheless, they found Him with His mother in a room in a rented house. This continues to grieve the great, wealthy, and wise, that anything good could come from such simple circumstances. They work in Purple Palaces and live like royalty while denying the Chief Article of Christianity - Justification by Faith. It delights God to use the least to deal with His Word and see his miraculous abundance in the treasure of His grace.

For example, I set up a Facebook Page to let more people know about the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry - all the books being free ebooks and public domain (no copyright restrictions or lawsuits). From that came almost 100 people interested in Classic Lutheran Books. Someone from Denmark pointed out a linking error, and I asked, "Do you know of French Lutheran books?" He said, "Here is one link," which was full of Luther's works in French, ideal for French Africa and French Lutherans.

Thus in less than a day, we opened up the distribution of free Lutheran works to a large part of the world's missions. More is developing as books get translated into native languages.

The Wise Men worshipped Jesus as God and presented their gifts as a group (not likely one each from three men). They did not give gifts to Herod, but saved royal gifts for the royal Infant. Giving gifts like this showed honor, respect, and devotion. 

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

God warned them so they could take the Gospel back to their land, and this also protected the Family from the wrath of Herod.

This lesson begins a number of texts which deal with God revealing the divine power of Jesus in His public ministry. This is how God made sure that everyone knew Jesus as His Son, as the Savior.

Human reason and so-called proofs do not convert people to faith in Jesus. The Gospel alone does that.

Luther explains this best, which must be the emphasis

39. It is therefore not possible for human doctrines not to lead away from the truth, as Paul says. For one of two things must take place, viz.; They will either be despised and rejected when it is understood that they will not make us holy nor save us; or they will ensnare and deaden conscience and conviction if it is believed that they do make us holy and must therefore be kept. In this case faith is destroyed and the soul must perish. There is no help nor rescue. For true faith cannot exist nor can it tolerate that anyone should conscientiously hold something else to be necessary to become holy and be saved than faith in Christ alone. Therefore, whoever has this faith can not trust in human teachings, but observes them when and wherever he pleases, being lord over them. But he who follows human doctrines without having faith, can never apprehend faith, remains forever a slave of human commandments and will never do a really good work, as St. Paul says, Titus 1:16. For this reason we must hold fast to the plain teaching of Scripture which presents Christ only, and that by faith in him we become true Christians and then freely do all kinds of good works to the good of our neighbor, as has often been said.