bored has left a new comment on your post "Gerhard and Calov in the Book of Concord? - Rydeck...":
I sent Pastor Rydecki a note in response to his comment in which he footnote-stole Gerhard and Calov. (New Ichaslang entry? "did he just rydecki some quotes from Preuss?") I asked him for something from the Book of Concord that supports universal absolution/forgiveness without faith. I look forward to seeing what he offers.
The rest of that comment, though, is a very interesting. It sort of sums up my experience with many other WELS pastors. (not, by any stretch, all)--WELS argumentation in a nutshell. (I'm not writing this comment to defend myself, but to continue to help expose how UOJ storm troopers argue)
First, he begs the question: "... toward men who have proven themselves to be fine theologians" Marquart hasn't 'proven' himself to be anything except a teacher false Justification(s).
Then he guilt-trips and puts words into my mouth: "Have a care how you speak of these men. They have never been categorized as heretics." I never said anyone was a heretic, spin-meister.
Then a little smattering of diaprax: " If you don't like Pieper and Walther's use of the word (which I don't really either)..." Read between the lines. Rydecki: I'm like you: I don't like Pieper and Walther either. We agree. We're buds. But you have to consider... (Then he asks you to accept the same thing he just said he doesn't like.) Which leads to logical fallacy #2: Appeal to authority: "...there are still Gerhard and Calov to address." If Calov and Gerhard said it must be true. Gosh.
Then, the coup de grace: You can only understand Justification if you are a theologian. Pr Rydecki wrote: "All that said, there is also a difference between those who have proven themselves as solid Christians and theologians, and those who have barely dabbled in theology." His thinly veiled insult is really directed at all laymen. It is right for laymen to give respect to their pastors but not at the expense of our own discernment. Need I mention that Rydecki's attitude is pretty common in the WELS?
Finally, the punch line: " All that said, there is also a difference between those who have proven themselves as solid Christians and theologians, and those who have barely dabbled in theology. Those who are infatuated with sectarian teachers already show themselves to be theologically bankrupt." (laughtrack) If you wait for it, WELS pastors, in the act of stomping on a discerning layman will usually offer a humorous sum-up. Here Rydecki is criticizing anyone who reads Ichabod, and accusing Dr. Jackson of false doctrine.
It's funny because Rydecki is the one defending sectarian doctrines. Rydecki is joining many others in a path that diverges from the BoC.
It's funnier yet because he runs to the LCMS for the ultimate defense of UOJ, though it's a WELS-only blog. He's not defending UOJ with WEL theologians. I wonder if that's who he's referring to as 'dabblers'. He calls the anti-UOJ people theologically bankrupt, but yet spends his time dancing around the arguments made by those who challenge UOJ, never proving them to be false.
