Church and Change Deception Removed from Their Website

Maybe SP Schroeder Was Not So Excited about Church and Change...And Not Endorsing the Apostate Lobby

"What a scandal...

I see you saw my post on President Schroeder being excited - so did many others. Word made it to the top and now that link is gone.

What a riot..."

WELS Source

***
Previous breaking story on Church and Change.

GJ - False teachers lie about everything. All people have to do is report the lie and insist on the deception being repudiated. This needs to happen daily, not once every 20 years.

Adam Mueller, the son of President-in-Waiting Wayne Mueller, is an important part of Church and Change. Maximum deniability is a little tough when Junior is there.

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Deception Removed from Their Web...":

SLICK SOMEONE AT WELS. While the link is gone, reference in Q and A remains in sanitized version.

GJ - So where is this Q and A page? A URL would help.

My Suggested Readings for Lutherans

The Two Natures of Christ, by Norma Boeckler

Luther said that Christians are drawn away from the faith by curiosity (Eastern Orthodoxy and Romanism today) and satiety (an abundance of orthodox Lutheran congregations). When we had large conservative Lutheran congregation rising out of the farm communities of Middle America, we grew bored and tired of conservative Lutheran doctrine. Our itching ears wanted to hear about all the fads rolling through our culture. Now we even have a culture watchdog, who is the essence of faddism: Leonard Sweet.

Here is my list of the best things to read, then to read over and over. My library is small but choice.

Luther's Sermons, the Lenker set in 8 or 4 volumes.
Concordia Triglotta or the Tappert edition.
Chemnitz' Two Natures of Christ.
Chemnitz' Examination of the Council of Trent.

I would add these hymns:
1. Any hymn by Luther, Gerhardt, or Martin Franzman.

Many of Luther's hymns are neglected. Pastors do not select the lesser-known ones. Then people do not learn them and they remain lesser-known hymns. "Flung to the heedless winds" is a great hymn with a beautiful melody. Luther wrote that hymn, his first, after two young men were burned at the stake in 1523 for their Lutheran faith.

There are many other great Lutheran hymns. I wish Lutheran pastors and their choirs would emphasize the greatness (pure doctrine) of Lutheran hymns rather than the temporary popularity of spiritual ditties.

Weird Blog

I ran into Lutheran Enignma because I was searching a source for Berg's infant communion material. Gary Gehlbach is the author of this blog:

Theosis: Achieving Your Potential in Christ (1)

In preparation for my presentation (directed discussion) for The Augustana Ministerium's Theological Conference (30-31 August 2007) in Burleson, Texas, one of the readings which I suggested was Achieving Your Potential in Christ: Theosis by Anthony M. Coniaris. Selected portions of his book can be found on the internet.

As John Fenton points out on his blog, "Orthodoxy has no central body of "confessional documents" because it does not have a central hierarchical authority." Thus I cannot attribute to Coniaris's book any authoritative status on the subject of theosis. However, numerous Orthodox parishes refer to his book as an excellent resource for those interested in discovering more about theosis. Coniaris may not necessarily be the final authority but his presentation is highly regarded among the Eastern Orthodox.

Coniaris's book is in its 2nd edition from Light and Life Publishing Company. Its slightly over 100 pages (1st edition) are in large type font. His presentation is not a theological treatise, but a treatise for Eastern Orthodox laity.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Theosis: Achieving Your Potential in Christ (2)

Over a decade ago, a friend introduced me to the term 'Theosis.' Being thoroughly rooted in Missouri Synod Lutheranism, I had no idea what 'theosis' was. It sounded like a disease. But I was informed that this was a very old term and had great importance to the Eastern Orthodox Church's view of salvation. Now, after reading a few works on 'theosis,' I'm beginning to wonder if my first impression was not so far off the mark.

It is possible that some readers are now thoroughly offended by that previous comment. I will be simply dismissed as an unenlightened protestant heretic. (Yes, some EO writers clearly lump all protestants together as heretics and I am not in the least bothered by that judgment because they are wrong.) What I have discovered is that the word and concept of theosis carries with it all the baggage of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Some Lutherans (particularly the Finnish Lutherans) have tried to resurrect the word 'theosis' into the vocabulary of the modern Lutheran Church. They rationalize their position by stating that 'theosis' simply means 'deification.' And because Luther himself uses the term 'deification,' it is appropriate for Lutherans to use the word 'theosis.' Some might consider this an over-simplification of their argument, but it basic point which I gathered from some Finnish Lutheran presentations.

The concept of theosis in Anthony Coniaris's book Achieving Your Potential in Christ: Theosis is the fruit of all Eastern Orthodox doctrine. All EO doctrine serves and enlightens its understanding of theosis. What this means is that the errors of EO on original sin, justfication, work of the Spirit (eg, Pelagianism) corrupt any positive usage of the term 'theosis.'

It is possible that 'theosis' is a very good term, but its current usage among the EO make it very inappropriate for usage by Evangelical Lutherans.

***

GJ - With a little research, certain threads come together: Fenton (who left Missouri for Eastern Orthodoxy), Berg's connections with Eastern Orthodoxy fans (probably Ft. Wayne graduates), and His Grace, the Right Rev. James Heiser, Archbishop of ELDONA. The theosis Eastern Orthodoxy paper will be or was given at the so-called Augustana Ministerium meeting. Augustana was organized to be a half-way house for LCMS pastors aching to join ELDONA but not ready yet.

My only conclusion at this point is that a lot of LCMS men are walking the tightrope between Lutheran doctrine and Eastern Orthodoxy, with far too much interest in EO, as the writer above likes to call it. (I consider that an ominous sign, like my classmate who referred to his parole officer as his PO. My crime-laden classmate seemed all too familiar with the criminal justice system.)

Since Lutheran clergy are so ignorant of Luther's doctrine and the writings of Chemnitz, wouldn't it be better to concentrate on their confessional writings rather than the dubious and amorphous body of Eastern Orthodox literature? As I recall, Kurt Marquart was quite wary of the EO trend, but he is gone. So is Robert Preus. It is not unusual to have the suppressed get even after the guard-dogs are gone.

***

A comment posted on Lutheran Enigma:

Fr John W Fenton said...
A few comments, if I may:

* I understand your argument that theosis does not measure up to a Lutheran standard. Unless I missed it (which is entirely possible), I don't see the points listed for how or why it doesn't measure up.

* When Coniaris suggests that theosis is "the fruit of all Eastern Orthodox doctrine," he is suggesting that, for the Orthodox, theosis is not a doctrine (e.g., justification or sanctification). I would suggest that it is the practical (and practiceable) application of baptism--which, per se, is not a doctrine. (It took me a while to learn this point about theosis.)

* If I'm going to study what Lutherans teach about justification or any other doctrine, reading Scaer or Marquart would not be as profitable as reading the Book of Concord or the application of the doctrine in the liturgy. I suggest the same is true of Orthodox theology (or any theology, for that matter). Coniaris is good, but his context is the liturgy and the church fathers (e.g., St Athanasius, St Maximos the Confessor, etc). Orthodox priests are not "bound" to Coniaris, but they are to the fathers and liturgy (although not in the same way that Lutherans are "bound" to the Book of Concord).

Roll, Tide, RollGoing East

Sancta Sophia, The Church of Holy Wisdom, Constantinople (Istanbul)

One of the ELDONA priests, Rev. Rutowicz, complained bitterly that I pegged him as crypto-Eastern Orthodox after looking over his website. He allowed that perhaps his page on "Confessional Lutheran Links" was mislabeled. I imagined that he changed it, so I went back. Here is the list of links, in order:

Confessional Lutheran Links

1. Issues, Etc. ~ The Radio Voice of the Lutheran
   
   Faith for the 21st Century
   
   
2. Project Canterbury
   
   The Survival of the Historic Vestments in the Lutheran Church after 1555
   by Arthur Carl Piepkorn
   
   
3. Project Canterbury
   
   The Proper Communion Vestments
   by P. Severinsen
   
   
4. Vestments and Liturgies
   
   A plea for a more general use of the historic Vestments
   
   and Liturgies of our Church
   
   By J. A. O. STUB, D. D.
   
   
5. Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas
   
   
6. Saint Augustine's House
   
   Lutheran Monastery & Retreat House,
   Oxford, Michigan

Some history of St. Augustine's House, from their website:

On May 27, 1956, this former businessman in his fifties was ordained a priest in the cathedral of St. Lawrence in Lund, Sweden. The ordaining bishops were the famous theologian-bishops Anders Nygren and Gustaf Aulen. Rather than being assigned to a specific parish or other church post, he was commissioned "for ecumenical work in the United States among Lutherans."

A Quonset hut erected in 1958 has served as a chapel ever since. It is named for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as part of a wish to restore Mary to the piety of reformation churches and appropriate to a place of worship with many visitors. It is a humble building with a small pipe organ and simple appointments. After all these years of service it is constantly in need of repair. The highest priority for the community and its friends right now is its replacement by a more adequate and dignified structure.

GJ - The Reformation changed Protestantism from being Mary-centered to Christ-centered. This was a remarkable development since all the Reformers were raised in a Marian piety with a thousand-year tradition. The Assumption and Immaculate Conception of Mary were accepted as truth before the Reformation.

One of the first signs of poping or semi-poping is a longing for Marian piety. I thought of using advertizing on this blog, but I found another one with "Lutheran Rosary" as an ad provided from Google.

Readers are invited to check the links and see for themselves.

***

The Motley Magpie is being praised on LutherQuest (sic). MM criticized Church and Change, leading to a bitter editorial.

Someone on LQ thought the latest MM was cool, so I decided to read it: I Believe in the Communion of All the Saints, by Peter Berg, Chicago. The article was written in 2004, but finally revealed for free. Urbe et orbe.

The article uses a few dubious references to prove the Lutheran Reformation--and Luther--approved of infant communion.

If you Google the names from this Berg passage - "I must confess that I have not dealt with primary documents. I am relying on the translating work and research of others and to them I am indebted. To mention a few by name, I’m particularly indebted to Fr. Duane Osterloth, Fr. Gifford Grobien, and Fr. Gary Gehlbach." - you will find a curious group of Ft. Wayne graduates, characterized by a fascination with liturgy and Eastern Orthodoxy. There is also a connection with ELDONA through the so-called Augustana Ministerium.

I first heard a Lutheran, Eugene Brandt, one of the chief editors of the Lutheran Book of Worship (LCA/ALC/LCMS), embrace infant communion when he gave a Notre Dame lecture. His entire justification was, "We baptize babies. Why not commune them? Why deny them God's grace?" His lecture was a trial run for a position he did not get. One of America's most famous theologians asked a drunken question afterwards. Cold sober, I asked the lecturer how he justified infant communoin. He said, "Read my articles." I was tempted to say, "I will read yours if you read mine." That was about 30 years ago.

Notre Dame is the center for liturgical studies in America. Notre Dame is to liturgy what SIECUS is to sex education. All roads lead to Rome in this case.

Berg writes decisively about infant communion, a practice limited to Eastern Orthodoxy. His so-called research is based on the work of others, the Ft. Wayne gang, one with a PhD in liturgy from Notre Dame.

There are many Luther scholars out there who have made a name for themselves by inventing things about the Reformer. One problem is the vast amount of material available and the ability or willingness of the scholar to discern the valid from the bogus. Roland Bainton wrote an excellent critique of Young Man Luther where these points were made. I have found a number of Lutheran pastors who talk about Luther but clearly do not know their subject matter.

About infant communion - I went through Chemnitz' Examination yesterday to find a trace of commentary on the practice. None. I have never read about infant communion even being a topic of discussion during the Reformation. Perhaps I missed something, but I have read many books about the Reformation and more Luther than most Lutherans.

A Missouri pastor has written to me that there are many Missouri discussion groups centered on Eastern or Roman worship. They are the Oxford Movement of the Lutheran Church. Some will pope and join Rome. Some will semi-pope and join Eastern Orthodoxy (Fenton). Some will stay and agitate for the Eastern/Roman causes they hold dear.

Many of these stories and people overlap. His Grace, the Right Reverend James Heiser, ELDONA, was once part of the Lutheran Confessional Synod. The leader was Bishop DeJaynes, who organization fell apart when a new recruit apparently advocated infant communion. When Bishop DeJaynes was on vacation, his wife preached for him. The Little Sect on the Prairie was in fellowship with the LCS for a time.

***

GJ - According to Briag Westgate, the quonset hut is gone. Did Marian piety flee with it? I doubt it. I have addressed Berg's infant communion gambit publicly because he made it public. The new motto is, "Go East, young man."

Arguments from silence are not very powerful, Brian. In fact, they are logical fallacies. I have a new post which illuminates the LCMS problem a little more. Perhaps it is more of a Ft. Wayne problem.

***

Brian W. went on to say: Then there are those who are like Fenton. Fr. Berg is not going East, and I think you know that.

GJ - I do not know what anyone is going to do. Actuaries would say that if 1000 clergy are treating EO material like the Holy Grail, a certain percentage of them will join in time. A number have already and they are recruiting Lutherans. The Lutheran clergy are weak because they have been force-fed Reformed doctrine, do not know Luther's doctrine, and get all pumped up about how educated they are.