The Missing Elements in The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

The ones who ignore the Means of Grace are the same ones who like to talk about grace apart from the efficacious Word.

The missing elements in The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - are easy to discuss from the correct sources.

The efficacious Word is central for all of this talk about Christian theology. Another way of saying it is The Word never without the Spirit; the Spirit never without the Word (A. Hoenecke).

If the efficacious Word is dismissed, then so are the Instruments (or Means) of Grace. Those means are:

• The Word when preached, taught, and remembered.
• Holy Communion.

God's grace comes to us only though faith in Jesus Christ. So many clergy are aping Rome that they overlook both. In fact, one self-appointed bishop was in close contact with Missouri's Higher Things, which centered on Objective Faithless Justification. These two verses are worth remembering when people talk about grace but do not believe the Scriptures -

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

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

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Faith in Jesus Christ - The Center of All Teaching and Worship

If people are really interested in teaching and living God's grace, then they must be taught faith in Jesus Christ. Lutheran pastors today seem to be aping the Church of Rome or the MBA denizens of Fuller Seminary.

The twin fallacies are so poisonous among the management bullies that pastors and congregations need to escape from the two traps - Rome and Fuller - and return to Luther's sermons and Biblical teaching. 

If the congregation is promoting everything except faith in Jesus Christ, its purpose vacated, erased, forgotten. That has come about through the efforts of 

• incompetent and unbelieving college/seminary professors, 
• political synod managers - all the way down to synod president - 
• and lost, bewildered parish pastors. 

The matters should be addressed by the pastor and congregation. These would be typical changes:

1. Sermons are always about the Savior, the meaning of His Gospel, His sermons and miracles. He is the most important part of both Testaments, which are really one. 
2. Adult classes are about the Bible and how people understand and appreciate the Gospel.
3. Children are trained at various levels in their knowledge of the Gospel.
4. The Sacraments are observed without becoming a show - either through silliness or Romanism.
5. The pastor visits members who are sick and shut-in and in various other ways. The Internet connects everyone on websites, blogs, and Zoom. Blogs are free and Zoom is around $15-20 a month. Cello phones cost more than Zoom so get over it.
6. Because of Zoom, the worship services and classes can be broadcast around the world, converted into YouTube videos quickly and easily. 

Pastors - Read these quotations carefully. 

Download them and share them.

The Word is always efficacious and God knows before we even begin to ask.

Pastoral training can include being denied food, driven out, chased by dogs, and pelted with manure.

There can be a lot of sorrow in life. The bottom half of this graphic is from the tornado, in Joplin, Missouri. We heard the storm howl all night, 50 miles away. The Christian Faith is a great comfort to those who are taught it.

Why Are The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - Remarkably Alike? Affinity Is More Powerful Than Divinity to Them.

 

Slick dark roads, take me home, to the Hell where I belong!
Church Growth Movement, nursing mother,
Take me home, Church Growth song.

I was drinking some Earl Grey tea and pondering the hypocrisy of the Little Three -WELS-ELS-CLC (sic). They live on being shocked by how loose Missouri and ELCA are. That is so hilarious. They were silent when Marvin Schwan gave so much "orthodox Lutheran" money to the Missouri Synod. I was writing about Marvin when several news organizations asked me about Schwan's investments in gambling. I knew nothing about that, but the news people were hot on that trail. 

Kids putting make-up on men who all wore dresses? That's so ELCA!
No, that is so WELS, from the cross-dressing "pope" in their hazing week
to the Party in the Fire Island Pines plagiarized video (but worse).

We all know how family oriented the Little Three are. Marvin dumped his wife and married the wife of one of his executives. Schwan was featured in Forbes magazine laughing uproariously about giving up $1 million and a Cadillac to leave his wife and marry his employee's wife. The Little Three did not make a peep, chickens as they are. I sent the story to Herman Otten and he reproduced it. Pastor Jay Webber (of Objective Faithless Justification fame) denounced me on the phone for doing that. I said, "It is a national publication, not a secret." He responded, "Nobody reads Forbes." The Little Three are not used to reading more than CN and their synodical publications.

Two out of three gained weight, andThrivent builds.

Earlier, Otten invited us to the dedication of the St. Louis seminary church. He had some Russian visitors along. Christina also went in our Aerostar van. I never overlook possible evidence, so I checked out bulletin boards and saw - gasp - Marvin Schwan being a major donor to their new cathedral. If anyone has heard a WELSian roar about the apostasy of the Missouri Synod, the silence was telling. The previous pastor at Shepherd of Peace (WELS) said he left the table during his LCMS brother saying the prayer. How many souls were saved by that gesture of purity? One should read his books and study his "ministry" in WELS.

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - did this, not just WELS.
Hartman gave the dates.

Nobody had any problem with Marvin's shenanigans in WELS or the ELS. I think the CLC (sic) focused on the evil of using the wrong insurance company, because they had no other distinct object of their stink-a-thons. And yet there is more on that topic.

Marvin spread his money around for the ELS, LCMS, and WELS. As those buildings age and accumulate the costs for shrinking populations, some will admit they spent a lot on nothing and now must pay. And yet, the WELS and ELS are building spectacular gyms for their colleges, somewhere around $15 million each, 35 miles across. That is no farther than Bella Vista to Fayetteville in Arkansas, 36.5 miles. 

The strangest addiction of the Walther Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - has been their intoxicated, dreamy devotion to the Church Growth Movement. Who among the Lutherans are more caustic and sanctimonious about the Calvinists than the Walther Four? Yes, you got that on the first try - Walther and his idolaters! The best anyone can say about them - is Peter Drucker remains their idol. I was hearing his nonsense already in the LCA, when they used his snore-a-thons for clergy meetings. At least the Walther Four kept God out of their reveries. It was and still is a perfume of money, buildings, praise bands, and empty sermons. 

Oh! Oh! Oh! Let's hear it from the LCMS Purple Palace - another white elephant.

I knew the Church Growth lingo before I left the Lutheran Church in America. Their evangelism meetings were besot with Fuller dogma. I found WELS even more intoxicated. The ELS and CLC (sic) were anxious to do the same and deny it, because they were so pure. Instead of confessing their doctrinal sins, they hushed up anyone who dared to mention the sacred words of Pasadena, McGavran, and Wagner. They welcomed anyone who hated Luther's Biblical doctrine and gloried in their apostasy.  As Wayne Mueller (WELS CG star) said at a youth meeting, "Evangelism is easy. All you have to do is say, You are already forgiven." 

No one wants to admit now that they wrecked their synods in the name of GROWTH!

1. They chose rah-rah language over the Means of Grace.
2. They made fun of Luther but never looked in the mirror about their fantasies.
3. They wasted money and pursued the elderly to give even more with irrevocable charitable trusts.
4. They never examined their motives and lusts.
5. They loved to kick out those who even suggested their fallibility.
6. They drove the youth out of the churches.
7. They hated the KJV and promoted the NIV-RSV-NRSV-ESV-Beck bogus Bibles.

Reformation Seminary - New Testament Greek Second Lesson - 11 AM Central

 

The Gospel of John in Greek, Traditional/Stephanus

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=TR1550

The Gospel of John, KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=KJV

John 1

1 εν αρχη ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον θεον και θεος ην ο λογος

2 ουτος ην εν αρχη προς τον θεον

3 παντα δι αυτου εγενετο και χωρις αυτου εγενετο ουδε εν ο γεγονεν

4 εν αυτω ζωη ην και η ζωη ην το φως των ανθρωπων

5 και το φως εν τη σκοτια φαινει και η σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν

John 3:16f

3:16 ουτως γαρ ηγαπησεν ο θεος τον κοσμον ωστε τον υιον αυτου τον μονογενη εδωκεν ινα πας ο πιστευων εις αυτον μη αποληται αλλ εχη ζωην αιωνιον

17 ου γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον αυτου εις τον κοσμον ινα κρινη τον κοσμον αλλ ινα σωθη ο κοσμος δι αυτου

18 ο πιστευων εις αυτον ου κρινεται ο δε μη πιστευων ηδη κεκριται οτι μη πεπιστευκεν εις το ονομα του μονογενους υιου του θεου

All Videos - Link at the Bottom of the Masthead Area

 

This is how I felt about Zoom.

One of our members created the link to include all our videos. They are in reverse order - the newest ones at the bottom of the masthead area.

The link is - Click here for all previous YouTubes.

I was shocked to find out how easy it is to convert the Zoom file into a YouTube video. Therefore, it was easy to post the video with the worship services and with the lectures. That takes about 10 minutes after the event is over.

The posts in the left column are one way to find essays.

"Control f" is useful for finding topics.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 4 - "What wilt thou do now in order to be helped? This thou must do: Believe on the Savior, the Lord Christ, that he has taken away thy sin. If thou believest this, he is thine and thy sins will disappear; if not, then thou wilt never get rid of sin, but wilt always fall into it deeper and deeper."

 

Complete sermon -> Cantate. Fourth Sunday After Easter. John 16:5-15. How the Holy Spirit Convicts the World of Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

Therefore, on this account alone, thou wilt be condemned, because thou hast not Christ.

11. This sentence, then, is given for the honor and glory of the high grace, which God has given us in Christ the Lord. What reason would have ever been so wise as to discover that this was done for man’s sake? Reason is not able to rise higher in its thoughts than to say: I have sinned in deeds done. I must make good by doing other deeds. I must blot out and pay for the sin, in order that I may thus obtain a gracious God. If reason comes so far, it has reached its climax. Still it is nothing but foolishness and blindness.

12. But God speaks thus: If thou wilt be rid of sin, thou must do other works wherewith to pay the price. But with all the works which thou dost, thou canst do nothing but sin, even with the works wherewith thou thinkest to reconcile me and to do penance for thy sins. How wilt thou then, thou fool, blot out sin with sin? For even in the works which thou considerest the best and which thou canst do, thou sinnest if thou dost not do them willingly and from the heart. For if thou didst not fear punishment, thou wouldst rather not do them at all. Thus thou dost no more than that thou seekest to blot out little sins by doing greater ones; or else to commit such great ones that thou mayest lay aside others.

13. Wherefore, it is ever great blindness that a man does not see what sin is, nor know what good works are, but accepts sin for good works. When the Holy Spirit comes, he convicts the people and says: The works which thou hast done, as well as those which thou art still doing, are nothing but sin; therefore, it is all in vain that thou dost attempt to make satisfaction for thy sin according to thy ability. Then they feel compelled to say: Behold, this I did not know. Then says he: For this purpose I am here, in order to tell thee this. If thou hadst known it, it would not have been necessary for me to come and make it known. What wilt thou do now in order to be helped? This thou must do: Believe on the Savior, the Lord Christ, that he has taken away thy sin. If thou believest this, he is thine and thy sins will disappear; if not, then thou wilt never get rid of sin, but wilt always fall into it deeper and deeper.

14. Thus, with this passage everything has been completely overthrown that has hitherto been preached about penance and satisfaction for sin, and all else that has been practiced and urged. For this reason there have been founded many orders and masses, and on this account we have become priests and monks and have run to and fro in order best in the world, which the world considers pious and holy, to get rid of sin. Therefore, it also follows: Whatever is that is nothing but mere sin and a damnable thing. Thus we have considered one part of this Gospel.

15. The second thought then follows: “The Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect to righteousness, because I go to the Father,” says Christ, “and ye behold me no more.” Righteousness means piety and a good and honorable life before God. What is this now? It is, says Christ, “because I go to the Father.” We have often said about the resurrection of Christ that it came to pass not for his sake, but for our sakes, in order that we may apply it to ourselves as a blessing which is our own. For this reason he is risen from the dead and has ascended to heaven, that he might begin a spiritual kingdom, in which he reigns in us through righteousness and truth. Therefore, he sits above; he does not rest and sleep, does not play with himself, but, as Paul says, Ephesians 1:22, has his work here upon the earth, governing the consciences and the souls of men with the Gospel.

Tom Fisher on the Small Catechism

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

I was watching your podcast titled 30 minutes with Luther and suddenly realized Luther perfectly shows us the faith we must have to be justified in his Small Catechism:

"I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord; who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood, and with His innocent suffering and death; that I should be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness; even as He is risen from death, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true."

I am carefully studying Luther's Large Catechism regarding his explanation of the Creed and Holy Baptism.

 

In Christ,

Tom Fisher

Reformation Seminary Lecture - Faith, Forgiveness, Grace

https://thekingsbible.com/Concordance/footstool

YouTube appears after the lecture.

Faith

KJV Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

KJV Matthew 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Forgiveness

KJV Psalm 130 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.

2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Mark 3:29	But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Act 5:31	Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Grace

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Ps 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

1:17	For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

KJV Matthew Rom 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: - The Greek clearly says the faith belonging to Jesus three times. He had faith.

Where Have All the Numbers Gone, Long Time Passing? Ask The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

 

WELS SP Schroeder's henchmen (aka District Popes) were sent out to end the Intrepid Lutherans, much like the previous effort from another group when SP Karl Gurgel showed up as a wet blanket.

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

Synod Popes enjoy the lion's share. (Definition - the lion's share is not some of the food, but most of it!) Like Matt the MDiv, they enjoy glowering at others who might take their luxuries away. Beware of the kiss-ups who share and growl at anyone who might question the infallibility of the popes. There are two levels of Antichrist in the New Testament. The main one works from Rome. The secondary popes, noted in the Scriptures, are all over the planet.

The Synod Popes are more accurately described as chameleons, who can change into any color - except white. They get enormous salaries compared to parish pastors, plus Santa's Sleigh full of extras, tax free because their synod buddies and Thrivent want to have the most leverage.

This paroxysm was brought on by WELS posting some numbers too narcotized to ignore. Their total numbers are only slightly down from 30 years ago? They liked saying 400,000 in 1992 or so. Now they are 370,000? The earlier number came from people coaxed out of the Missouri Synod. I also see this link on Google, saying 340,000 and 370,000...

About WELS

WELS is a group of nearly 400000 men, women, and children in ...

Seminex was initiated by two WELS professors (Jungkuntz and Gehrke) - and the LCMS gang. They vowed to take over their synods, one way or another, and both cults did. 

Both synods - LCMS and WELS - are model Seminex makeovers. They are not so far from ELCA as they pretend. Both are the One True Holy Mother Synod in their propaganda, but a den of thieves in reality.

The trouble with pastors 50 years after ordination is this - they can measure 2024 against what they saw and heard in the 1970s. The laity are just as appalled. They are more likely to be attached to the KJV as the hip guys are with their Anything Goes Bibles - Beck, RSV, NRSV, NIV, or ESV.

LCMS and WELS churches are as anti-Lutheran and anti-Christian as the worst Church Growth numbskulls. Just as CPH mocked the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, so WELS churches are selling abominations on their church websites.

Amazing Love Swag

Hurry! FREE shipping over $50!

Not Today Satan

Prayer Warrior - typical Reformed gimmick

God Squad

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 4 - "Thus, God has done away with the sins of all men who believe on the Christ, so that henceforth it is impossible for one to remain in sin who has this Savior, who has taken all sins upon himself and blotted them out."

 

Complete sermon -> Cantate. Fourth Sunday After Easter. John 16:5-15. How the Holy Spirit Convicts the World of Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

6. In the first place one must know that the Word of God does not speak only of the outward existence and appearances, but it takes hold of the heart and the depths of the soul. Accordingly it does not judge man as to his outward appearance and action, but according to the depths of his conscience. Now, everyone will experience in himself, if he wishes to acknowledge it, however pious he may be (even though he were a Carthusian or as holy as any one on earth), that in his heart he would rather do the contrary, and otherwise than what he is outwardly compelled to do.

Thus, if I were left to myself, a monk, who walks about in poverty and chastity, as they pride themselves, but were made to confess how I feel in my heart, I must say: That which I do, I would rather not do. If there were no hell and I would not feel the disgrace, I would leave my office have the misfortune, and run off. For I have no desire from the heart to do it, but am compelled thereto, and must do it in spite of hell, punishment or disgrace.

It is not possible that I should do it from choice and gladly. Such everyone who is without grace finds in his own heart. The same you will find continually in other matters. I am never from my heart kind and friendly to my enemy, for this is impossible to nature; and though I act otherwise, in my heart I think thus: If it were not for the punishment, I would have my way and not remain without revenge. Thus, I still go about before the world, and do not as I would like and feel inclined to do, for fear of punishment or disgrace. Likewise if you go through all the commandments, from the first to the last, you will find that there is no one who keeps God’s commandments from the bottom of his heart.

7. Now, against this evil God found a remedy and determined to send Christ, his Son, into this world, that he should shed his blood and die, in order to make satisfaction for sin and take it away, and that the Holy Spirit then should enter the hearts of such people, who go about with the works of the Law, being unwilling and forced to it, and make them willing, in order that without force and with joyous heart they keep God’s commandments. Otherwise there might be no means of removing the misery; for neither human reason and power, nor even an angel could rescue us from it. Thus, God has done away with the sins of all men who believe on the Christ, so that henceforth it is impossible for one to remain in sin who has this Savior, who has taken all sins upon himself and blotted them out.

8. Inasmuch as Christ has now come and commanded to preach that everything we may do, however great and beautiful it may appear, is sin, because we do nothing that is good with pleasure and willingly, and that for this reason he has stepped forward and has taken away all sin, in order that we may receive the Holy Spirit, through whom we obtain love and pleasure to do what God wants us to do, in order that we do not attempt to come before God through our own works, but through Christ and his merits, therefore it cannot be called any longer sin committed against the Law, for the Law did nothing to assist us in becoming pious, since we are not able to do anything good.

9. What sort of sin then remains upon earth? No other than that one does not receive this Savior and refuses to accept him who has taken away sin. For if he were present, there would be no sin, since he, as I have said, brings the Holy Spirit with him, who kindles the heart and makes it willing to do good. Therefore, the world is no longer punished and condemned on account of other sins, because Christ blots them all out; only this remains sin in the New Testament, that one will not acknowledge nor receive him. Therefore he likewise says in this Gospel: “When the Holy Spirit is come, he will convict the world in respect of sin, because they believe not on me.”

10. As if he wished to say: Had they believed on me, everything would already have been forgiven them, whatever sin they might have committed, for I know that they by nature cannot do otherwise. But because they will not receive me, neither believe that I can help them, this it is that will condemn them. Therefore, God will at the final judgment pass a sentence like this on them: Behold, thou wast in sin and couldst not free thyself from it, still I did not on this account wish to condemn thee, for I sent my only begotten Son to thee and intended to give thee a Savior, in order that he might take the sin from thee. Him thou didst not receive. Therefore, on this account alone, thou wilt be condemned, because thou hast not Christ.

The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - Impale Themselves on John 16:7-9

 

KJV John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

What makes The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) rage, fume, sputter, and slam down the EXCOMMICATE! button?

I have quoted their fuddle-headed declaration many times. Note the singular - declaration - a foul speck of poison that has toxified all they teach. It is not pretending. This is what they really mean - "The entire world has been declared righteous." 

They have two factions. One is - "The entire world was declared righteous when Christ died on the cross." That is Cross Objective Faithless Justification.

The second definition is - "The entire world was declared righteous the moment Christ rose from the dead." That is Grave Objective Faithless Justification. 

They are not divided, even though they contradict the parallel definition of  their hardened, blinded stupidity. They are not children who always speak of faith in Jesus. Not at all - the Objective Faithless Justification addicts are carefully trained, weighted with diplomas, unbelieving charlatans. Nothing makes them rage louder, longer, and more lasciviously than the Chief Article of Christianity - Justification by Faith.

 

Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz taught the Chief Article.
So did the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ.

Not believing on Christ is a sin, as Jesus clearly taught.  

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 4 - "Let us take, for example, at the present day, all the schools of learning and the learned men and see whether they can tell us what that one little word “sin” is? For who has ever heard that not to believe in Christ is sin?"

 

Cantate. Fourth Sunday After Easter. John 16:5-15. How the Holy Spirit Convicts the World of Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

Text: John 16:5-15. But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, shall come, he shall guide you into all the truth; for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak; and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

1. The meaning of this Gospel lesson we have also often heard elsewhere; the only trouble is, the words have not generally been understood to have the meaning of things with which we are familiar. Therefore we will explain it a little, in order that one may see that the same teaching is contained in these words, that is found in all the other Gospel lessons. It is a fine Gospel, but it also requires fine students. We will omit the first part and consider what the Lord says, that the Holy Spirit is to convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, and will see what the meaning of all this is.

2. In the first place, we see here that the world is accused of blindness and ignorance. All those who are without the Holy Spirit, however wise they may be in matters pertaining to the things of this world, are, before God, fools and blind. They do not like to hear this; and when they are told that their doings are of no account before God, it displeases them and makes them angry, because they insist that they are in possession of reason and the natural light, which God created in them. But what does this matter to us? There are the Scriptures and the Word of God plain and clear, that the Holy Spirit is to come to ‘convict the world, because it does not know what sin, righteousness and judgment are. Thus it is determined, there it stands; let be angry who will, Christ does not care.

3. It is much to be deplored that the world is convicted, not only because of its sin and want of righteousness, not being able to judge rightly, but that it does not acknowledge nor see this, to say nothing of its endeavor to alter the matter. Oh, how completely the praise of all comes to naught, who, while they endeavor to make other people pious, know not themselves what sin is! Let us take, for example, at the present day, all the schools of learning and the learned men and see whether they can tell us what that one little word “sin” is? For who has ever heard that not to believe in Christ is sin? They say, it is sin if one speaks, desires or does something against God’s will and commandment. But how does that correspond with this saying of Christ: It is sin because they do not believe on me? Therefore, they are easily convicted of the fact that they know not what sin is; and if they be ever so learned, they will not be able to explain this text.

4. In like manner, they are not able to know what “righteousness” is. For who has ever heard that a man should become pious and just because Christ ascended to heaven or goes to the Father and we see him no more? There we must say, a fool has thus spoken and not a wise man. For they say, righteousness is a virtue, which teaches man what he owes others. This is true, but the trouble is, they do not understand their own words, such blind fools they are. Therefore, one needs not be surprised that they rage so much against the Gospel and persecute the Christians. How could they do otherwise? They know no better.

Arkansas Is Central for Country Music and Famous Country Music Stars

 

LutherQuest Is Revealing the LCMS Higher Education Catastrophe, WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie Are No Better

 

 It is going to take more than this.

Rick Strickert (Carlvehse) Senior Member Username: Carlvehse Post Number: 11054 Registered: 10-2003	Posted on Sunday, April 14, 2024 - 7:51 pm:       Given President Ankerberg's February 13th statement that noted: quote: In the meantime, if you would like to talk to someone who can address your concerns and help you decide whether to continue your education here or seek other options, please get in touch with your advisor or contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at caps@cuaa.edu or 734-995-7441. The timing of this announcement was purposeful to allow students to make informed decisions about your future plans. and his March 26th statement, quote: On February 29, the Board unanimously agreed to protect CUAA's 2024-25 academic year. suggests that most students who are currently juniors and seniors will be able to finish their baccalaureate degrees. However, freshmen and sophomores may find that the major they were intending to pursue may no longer be available after the end of the 2024-25 academic year.
Rev. Kevin D. Vogts (Kevin_vogts) Senior Member Username: Kevin_vogts Post Number: 2297 Registered: 1-2005	Posted on Sunday, April 14, 2024 - 9:47 pm:       This news article indicates even state schools in Wisconsin are also addressing similar concerns: www.wpr.org/news/external-review-raises-alarms-abo ut-financial-future-at-multiple-uw-campuses
Rick Strickert (Carlvehse) Senior Member Username: Carlvehse Post Number: 11055 Registered: 10-2003	Posted on Monday, April 15, 2024 - 10:38 am:       Excerpted from a February 5, 2024, Inside Higher Education article, "Colleges on the Brink": quote: A prolonged stretch of sinking enrollments, a global pandemic, uncertainties in state funding, a public increasingly skeptical of their value and their own tendencies to overbuild and overspend have left hundreds of colleges facing unsustainable futures. If these institutions don’t change how they operate, it’s unreasonable to believe they will change this trajectory. Grand plans to grow their enrollments or solicit large private donations to boost their endowments aren’t viable strategies to dig out of deep budget holes. They’re wishful thinking. Financially stressed institutions must take a full, clear-eyed accounting of what it costs to offer the academic programs, student support, research activities, entertainment and community service that most aspire to provide. At an increasing number of institutions, this reckoning will show they are offering more academic programs; employing more administrators, faculty and staff; and spending more money on intercollegiate athletics and other nonacademic activities than they can afford. Not mentioned, but one needed action for the CUS schools is to purge the schools and academic programs of D.I.E. indoctrination and staff.