Universal Objective Justification, which also goes by the names of Objective Justification and General Justification, consists of one solitary dogma - universal absolution.
There are some slight but trivial variations in UOJ. Some date this unrecorded declaration at the death of Christ. Others at the moment of His resurrection. The Pietists--like Rambach and Walther and Jay Webber--favor Easter.
This universal absolutions is taught by Karl Barth (Fuller's theologian), the Universalists, all the mainline denominations, and the Seventh Day Adventists.
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| "...must accept by faith the general absolution..." That is not justification by faith. |
The corollary to universal absolution is simple - you must believe in this universal absolution. Walther stated this with great clarity and the SynConference Lutherans have aped it ever since. Therefore, Walther's justification by faith is NOT faith in Christ or in His atonement, but faith in Walther's delusions of universal forgiveness.
Implicit is Pope Walther's "Anathema sit!" If someone denies his Enthusiasm, let him be damned to Hell. As a Pietist, he was very astute at shunning other Pietists, calling them "Pietist" and "false teacher," irony too subtle for the men who followed one cell group guru after another.
Evidence of False Doctrine in Waltherians
There are many lapses in the teaching of the Waltherians, including silence about:
- The efficacy of the Word.
- The Means of Grace - except when twisted in the service of UOJ.
- The Holy Spirit working only through the Word.
- Justification by faith only found in Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, the Book of Concord, and the next generation of theologians.
- Samuel Huber, their first UOJ champion.
Symptoms of UOJ Enthusiasm
False doctrine leads to obvious symptoms, just as cancer and gangrene give themselves away with symptoms. Some symptoms are:
- Enrollment in Fuller Seminary, Trinity Divinity, and Willow Creek programs. Synodical funding.
- Pentecostalism.
- Receptionism.
- Joyfully working with ELCA in Church Growth projects.
- Subordination to Thrivent funding of any denomination, any religion.
- Promotion of false teachers and known sex offenders.
- Discipline reserved for those who question Holy Mother Synod about anything.
- Laziness and plagiarism in preaching.
- Non-visitation of members and prospects.
- Mark Schroeder, Pope John the Malefactor, Matt Harrison.
I expect little to happen in the right direction, but the truth is coming out. The pastors are too wedded to Mama Synod, and the congregations are loyal to their buildings.
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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "UOJ Clashes with Justification by Faith. The Word ...":
Ichabod -
As popular and photogenic, (at the time), as Walther was, he apparently [incorrectly] thought that human souls actually want to be saved from their unconverted state. He says that everyone "who wants to be saved........" That desire, however, can only be implanted by the Holy Spirit. When a human soul comes into contact with the Word of God and [by God's grace, through the Spirit's working] recognizes his fallen, corrupted and hopeless condition, - only then will he have a [genuine] desire to be saved. Apparently, Walther was of the same misconception as modern day universal objective justification enthusiasts that people can capriciously (on their own) muster the wherewithal to believe in Christ.
Again, looking at this Walther quote, I see nothing Biblical. No mention of repentance. Somehow in UOJ fanatical thinking, is the false notion that a general absolution replaces repentance and personal belief [faith] - a grace bestowed by our loving God:
The Grace of Repentance
http://www.thechristianmessage.org/2012/07/grace-of-repentance.html
Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org