Sloppy Language, Sloppy Theology, Bad Results

Rev. Fr. Steven D. has left a new comment on your post "UOJ Equals ELCA Doctrine - Verbatim Proof":

Greg, et al - These statements are often defended in WELS because, "they CAN (emphasis mine) be understood correctly." Perhaps, but one pretty much has to turn the English language into a pretzel to accomplish this. I, for one, have never been happy or agreed completely with any of the attempts. They often end up raising more questions than they answer.

I don't know if this is the first example of this problem in the WELS, but it is certainly an important one. The problem? It used to be that it was taught to WELS Pastors that, "You must not only speak so clearly (in meaning) that you are understood, you must also speak so clearly that you cannot be misunderstood." Sadly, and to our great detriment as a church body, that is no longer being taught, and hasn't been for a long time. More's the pity!

Fr. Spence

***

GJ - As Paul L. Holmer, a Lutheran philosopher, taught at Yale - "Theology is the grammar of faith." By expressing a error borrowed from Knapp, the Syn Conference has promoted Enthusiasm, eliminated the efficacy of the Word, and established an ongoing Antinomian spirit. No one wants to admit officially that error has been on the throne, truth on the scaffold, for decades.

Church Growthism, Receptionism, and women's ordination are merely symptoms of the rot which has been encouraged to spread. Yes, encouraged with funds, organizations, silence, and the election of DPs and First VPs (Mueller and Huebner) who bow the knee to Enthusiasm while mocking the efficacy of the Word. "We know that the Word is effective, but..."

MLC is named for the Reformer, but they are a law unto themselves. The juvies there think everyone should understand their "culture." The faculty is more concerned with the proper spelling of their names than the grammar of faith.