Friday, February 12, 2016

Who Are the Authorities? - The References Give Away the Agenda.
Like Jay Webber Recently, Zarling Argued One Side - Against Luther and the Book of Concord.
A Sign-Off Tonight for the Icha-peekers


The President of Martin Luther College published this UOJ nonsense:

"Faith does nothing more than receive the forgiveness which is offered in the Gospel. It is not a condition we fulfill nor is it a cause of forgiveness. We are already forgiven. God's message of justification in Christ is there whether we believe it or not. Faith then receives the blessings." And, "Faith that accepts the good news of universal justification is the work of God the Holy Ghost." Page 7
“The glorious Gospel: In Jesus, God has declared the entire world righteous and forgiven, irregardless of whether or not the world believes it. Such is the jewel described by objective, universal, or general justification.” Page 2
Quoting Stoeckhardt, “If God has already in Christ justified all men and forgiven their sins, then I also in Christ have a gracious God and the forgiveness of all my sins.” Page 5
“Irregardless of man's faith, God declares the world just.”
Page 6
“Our salvation is an accomplished fact. It is done. It is finished. The resurrection is the proof that God has declared the sinners justified!” Page 6
“Faith does nothing more than receive the forgiveness which is offered in the Gospel. It is not a condition we fulfill nor is it a cause of forgiveness. We are already forgiven.” Page 7
“Simply present Law and Gospel. Warn sinners that unbelief damns, and rejection of Christ will bring eternal torment. Then comfort them with the glorious objective reality that all sins are already forgiven in Christ.” Page 7


I previously identified, more than once, the dishonest opening of Mark Zarling's horrible essay, Stand in Awe of Justification - which began calling justification the Chief Article of the Christian Faith and perversely defined justification as justification without faith.

Oh - that justification?


Ardnt, D. "The Doctrine of Justification and the Controversy Over the Views of Dr. W. Maier in the Missouri Synod." Redwood Falls Conference paper, delivered Nov. 17, 1981.

Arndt, Wm. "The Doctrine of Justification," Essay IX in volume 2 of The Abiding Word. St. Louis: CPH, 1947.

Becker, S.W. "Objective Justification." Essay delivered at the Chicago Pastoral Conference, November 9, 1982. Becker, S.W. "The Gospel." Essay XIV in volume 2 of The Abiding Word. St. Louis: CPH, 1947.

Brinsmead, R.D. "Lutherans in Crisis over Justification by Faith." Verdict, vol. 2, no. 6, November, 1979.

Burgdorf, T. "The Basis of Justification: The Work of Christ and the Grace of God." Essay number 3 at the Second Lutheran Free Conference, printed in His Pardoning Grace. Milwaukee: NPH, 1966.

Concordia Triglotta. St. Louis: CPH, 1921.

Curia, R.N. "The Significant History of the Doctrine of Objective or Universal Justification Among the Churches of the Former Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America." Paper delivered at the California Pastoral Conference, January 24-25, 1983.

Hummel, H.D. "Justification in the Old Testament." Concordia Journal, vol. 9. no. 1, January, 1983.

Kuske, D. "Making Use of Lutheran Heritage: 'Objective Justification' in our Mission Outreach Based on an Exegesis of II Corinthians 5:18-19." Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, vol. 77, no. 1, January, 1980.

Lawrenz C.J. "On Justification, Osiander's Doctrine of the Indwelling Christ." No Other Gospel. Milwaukee: NPH, 1980.

Meyer, J.P. Ministers of Christ. Milwaukee: NPH, 1963.

Moellering, H.A. "How to Preach Objective Justification—A Lesson from C.F.W. Walther." Concordia Journal, vol. 9, no. 1, January, 1983.

Otten, H. "The Meaning of Justification." Essay two of the Second Lutheran Free Conference, printed in His Pardoning Grace. Milwaukee: NPH, 1966.

Pieper, F. Christian Dogmatics. St Louis: CPH, 1951. vol. 2.

Plass, E.M. compiler. What Luther Says. An Anthology in 3 volumes. St Louis: CPH, 1959.

Preus, R.D. "Perennial Problems in the Doctrine of Justification." Concordia Theological Quarterly, vol. 45, no. 3, July, 1981.

Reim, N. "The Appropriation of Justification: Justifying Faith." Essay five at the Second Lutheran Free Conference, printed in His Pardoning Grace. Milwaukee: NPH, 1966.

Sanday W. and Headlam, A.C. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1971 reprint. [Favorite liberal, HCM commentary set. But where is Lenski?]

Scaer D.P. "The Two Sides of Justification." Christianity Today. June 26, 1981.

Schaller, J. Biblical Christology. Milwaukee: NPH, 1981.

Schaller, J. "Redemption and Universal Justification According to II Corinthians 5:8-21." Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, vol. 72, no. 4, October, 1975.

Scheutze, A.W. "The Presupposition of Justification: The Sin of Man and the Holiness of God." Essay one at the Second Lutheran Free Conference, printed in His Pardoning Grace. Milwaukee: NPH, 1966. Seminary Dogmatics Notes, cf. the Seminary mimeo company.

Steele, D.N. and Thomas, C.C. The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented. Philadelphia: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company, 1963.

Stoeckhardt, G. Epistle to the Romans. translator E.W. Koehlinger. Ft. Wayne: Concordia Theological Seminary Press.

Stoeckhardt. G. "General Justification." Concordia Theological Quarterly, vol. 46, no. 2-3, April and July, 1982.

Surburg, R.F. "Justification as a Doctrine of the Old Testament: A Comparative Study in Confessional and Biblical Theology." Concordia Theological Quarterly, vol. 46, no. 2-3, April and July, 1982.

Teigen, R.N. "The Proclamation of Justification: The Gospel Message of Forgiveness." Essay four at the Second Lutheran Free Conference, printed in His Pardoning Grace, Milwaukee: NPH, 1966.

Walther, C.F.W. The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel. translator, W.H.T. Dau. St. Louis: CPH, 1928. Warth, M.C. "Justification Through Faith in Article Four of the Apology." Concordia Theological Quarterly, vol. 46, no. 2-3, April and July, 1982.



***

GJ - Serious lapses can be spotted at once. Zarling's list is larded with recent UOJ authors. Where are:

  • Lenski, 
  • Luther, and 
  • Gausewitz?


Luther's sermons are extremely important and easily obtained in many forms and editions. Since Luther placed the sermon as the most important effort in church life, ignoring them is a major - and in fact - a dishonest omission.

Zarling ignored the Book of Concord and merely copied some quotations this way -

"32 This presentation was simplified greatly by Torald N. Teigen, in his essay, "the Proclamation of Justification: The Gospel Message of Forgiveness," printed in His Pardoning Grace, (Milwaukee: NPH, 1966), pp. 62-88. We follow his outline."

Zarling asserted that his cursory copying of quotations proved that the Lutheran Confessions are  in agreement "with our position."

This brief presentation of confessional quotations should be sufficient to assure us that our position is indeed synonymous with the Symbols of our church. Justification is the diamond among the jewels of God's revelation. It is the heart of the Gospel message. For our own eternal comfort, let us always treasure its priceless worth. p. 10, Zarling essay!

Let us everyone try to keep from laughing out loud when someone claims a "quia subscription to the Confessions" is the WELS position. Zarling makes it sound like the Book of Concord has a quia subscription to the UOJ of WELS.

Zarling's rhapsody is a clear case of begging the question, a type of circular reasoning. He simply assumes his initial point is true and piles on all the statements agreeing with it. But this is a logical fallacy because he does not entertain or even acknowledge that another position, even another definition of justification, is relevant.

In short, he correctly states that justification is the Chief Article of the Christian Religion, etc etc. His source is What Luther Says, which sounds like going deep sea fishing with a Ronco Pocket Fisherman. This betrays the modern WELS loathing of the Book of Concord. Why actually study The Righteousness of Faith, Article III in the Formula of Concord -  or engage the Apology's brilliant, clear discussion of justification by faith?

The Formula of Concord cites Melanchthon and Luther
in the article, The Righteousness of Faith.
These are authorities for sincere Lutherans,
far above the recent synodical squat-heads.

Instead, Zarling defines justification by opposing Luther, Melanchthon, and the Book of Concord. This sleight of hand, almost magical, is academic dishonesty and doctrinal bankruptcy. Instead of declaring a difference between the Book of Concord and the WELS dogma, he defines the original statement as really meaning the WELS dogma and runs away with his begging the question. Everyone must conclude from Zarling's manipulation that the Chief Article is indeed Objective/Subjective Justification, which are flotsam and jetsam from Halle Pietism and a Calvinist translator.

Zarling and Bivens remind me of the young woman who sang the praises of Margaret Sanger in her presentation in college. I asked about Sanger's speech to the Ku Klux Klan. Did she know about that?

The woman said, "Oh, I ran into that stuff about the KKK, but ignored it because it clashed with my theme."


Full Color Edition of The Faith of Jesus: Against the Faithless Lutherans Will Go into Production Today, God Willing and the Cricks Don't Rise


Today I am going to finish fixing the typos found in the black and white edition of The Faith of Jesus: Against the Faithless Lutherans.

Once that improved file is received by the publishing arm of Team Ichabod, the new edition will be prepped for Create Space (Amazon).

Listen up, readers
The color version will replace the black and white edition now in print.

Pretty soon - no one will be able to order up the less expensive version. However, that PDF will remain available free as a public link. Anyone can share the link and spread it around, to infinity and beyond.

If you want extra copies sent (no charge), let me know in the next couple of days and I will send them. If you already received a copy, I have your address. Let me know how many you need. Gifts have already been given to send these books around.

Last night I ordered up 15 copies for one person.

I do not know the price of the printed color version, but both companies charge for color for the whole book, when any color is used inside. But the on-demand books are far less expensive than the old system.

The new version is large format to make it more attractive. Norma Boeckler has used that format a number of times with her books, and these illustrations are all hers.



Color PDF Will Be Free
When the color version is available, the PDF will be linked for free. Anyone may use and share that link. Print it up on your own if you wish.

The idea is not to make a bundle on the book, which is impossible, but to distribute it everywhere, as freely as possible.

The book was written for informed laymen. As one early reader said, much more could be explained. However, this is a start for anyone new to the topic. Justification by faith can be learned by using the best sources (KJV and the Book of Concord) and UOJ can be un-learned by examining the false claims and deceptions used by the synodical leaders.

WELS false teachers Mark Zarling and Forrest Bivens claimed in writing that God pronouncing the entire world forgiven - whether anyone believes or not - to be the Chief Article of the Christian Faith. However, here are two citations that say otherwise.

Who knows better - Zarling and Bivens?
Or Melanchthon, Luther, and the Formula of Concord editors?
One wise guy said, "I agree with Webber."
I said, "I agree with the Holy Spirit, St. Paul, and Luther."

---

"No matter what you did yesterday -- or failed to do -- and no matter what you will do tomorrow, God has forgiven you."
WELS's Meditations, March-May 2014, for Monday, 17 March 2014.

"That faith, which, as we considered in the preceding chapter, is wrought in us by God (Col. 2:12; Eph. 1:19), is firmly based upon the fact that we are justified, that our sins have been forgiven. Justification, just like its opposite, condemnation, is a judgment of God (Rom. 5:18, 19). It is a judicial act of God in which He, as the Judge of all, pronounces a verdict of acquittal upon all sinners." 
Edward Koehler, Justification, Objective and Subjective

"Objectively speaking, without any reference to an individual sinner's attitude toward Christ's sacrifice, purely on the basis of God's verdict, every sinner, whether he knows it or not, whether he believes it or not, has received the status of saint."
WELS Kokomo Statements, JP Meyer, Ministers of Christ

"After Christ's intervention and through Christ's intervention God regards all sinners as guilt-free saints."
WELS Kokomo Statements, JP Meyer, Ministers of Christ

"When God reconciled the world to Himself through Christ, He individually pronounced forgiveness to each individual sinner whether that sinner ever comes to faith or not."
WELS Kokomo Statements, JP Meyer, Ministers of Christ

"At the time of the resurrection of Christ, God looked down in hell and declared Judas, the people destroyed in the flood, and all the ungodly, innocent, not guilty, and forgiven of all sin and gave unto them the status of saints."
WELS Kokomo Statements, taken from an earlier conflict over justification

“When Paul uses the word ‘reconciling’ here, [2 Corinthians 5:19] he clearly means that forgiveness of sins is really imputed to ‘the world.’"
Pope John the Malefactor, Lutheran Sentinel, 1996.

"This is very conveniently expressed by the terms objective and subjective justification. objective justification is the act of God, by which he proffers pardon to all through Christ; subjective is the act of man, by which he accepts the pardon freely offered in the gospel. The former is universal, the latter not."
The Calvinist Leonard Woods translating the Halle Pietist Geoge Knapp, 1831.

There is not one for whose sin and death he did not die, whose sin and death he did not remove and obliterate on the cross...There is not one who is not adequately and perfectly and finally justified in Him. There is not one whose sin is not forgiven sin in Him, whose death is not a death which has been put to death in Him...There is not one for whom he has not done everything in His death and received everything in His resurrection from the dead. 
(Karl Barth,Church Dogmatics, IV, 1, 638, cited with approval, Carl Braaten, Justification, p. 140.)

"For God has already forgiven you your sins 1800 years ago when He in Christ absolved all men by raising Him after He first had gone into bitter death for them. Only one thing remains on your part so that you also possess the gift. This one thing is--faith. And this brings me to the second part of today's Easter message, in which I now would show you that every man who wants to be saved must accept by faith the general absolution, pronounced 1800 years ago, as an absolution spoken individually to him." 
C. F. W. Walther, The Word of His Grace, Sermon Selections, "Christ's Resurrection--The World's Absolution" Lake Mills: Graphic Publishing Company, 1978 p. 233. Brosamen, p. 138. Mark 16:1-8.

We proclaim boldly, “Jesus Saved,” past tense, finished, certain. 
Jon Buchholz, WELS Convention Essay

"The justification of the human race indeed also ocurred, in respect of the acquisition, in one moment, in the moment in which Christ rose and was thus declared righteous; but in respect of the appropriation it still continues till the last day."
Jay Webber, quoting Halle Pietist with approval, Intrepid Lutherans
GJ - The statements above represent what Jay Webber, Jon Buchholz, and the Synodical Conference leaders believe or at least pretend to believe.

The hymn for the Emmaus Conference will be - I'd Rather Have Rambach -

to this tune -




  1. I’d rather have Rambach with silver and gold;
    I’d rather be Pietist with riches untold;
    I’d rather have Rambach with houses and lands;
    I’d rather be led by the Halle U. band.
    • Refrain:
      And to be the king of a vast domain
      And be held in sin’s dread sway;
      I’d rather have Rambach than anything
      The Gospel affords today.
  2. I’d rather have Spener with men’s applause;
    I’d rather be faithful to UOJ's cause;
    I’d rather have Rambach and worldwide fame;
    I’d rather be true to Halle U's name.
  3. They're fairer than roses or sauerkraut;
    They're sweeter than Thrivent grants without doubt;
    They're all that my Old Adam needs;
    I’d rather have Rambach and let him lead.

 Valleskey is a good example of promoting UOJ
and Church Growth in the same book,
which Webber considers "weird."
The Synodical Conference does this inconsistently
but persistently.


From 2009 - Money Wasted by the WELS Popcorn Cathedral of Love



What does DP Englebrecht of the Anything Goes District
have to say about these questions?
Rev. Douglas J. Engelbrecht
Ex-Northern Wisconsin District President
nwdpwels@sab.wels.net
920-722-6712


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bishop Katie Attends Drive 09 This Week: Ski, Busk...":

This is just plain wrong, Wrong, WRONG! I am outraged and saddened. We cannot trust the pastors in WELS. Why are these men not removed from WELS? Who is caring for the souls in The CORE while the pastor and assistant are gone? Why didn't this group go off to a WELS conference to study the Lutheran Confessions? I can't trust anything the WELS' pastors say anymore. The membership of WELS has been victimized by the leadership. WHY is the leadership of WELS allowing this to go on? How can the Presidents let these men take care of souls when they return? If WELS is Lutheran why are the pastors learning from prominent non-Lutherans? Why are they not learning from Scripture? Why are they learning the ways of men? Don't you know how you are confusing and driving away the very souls you once evangelized? Don't you know how much you are hurting the members? Don't you know the despair you are leading us into? Some of us have left Baptist and Evangelical churches to join WELS. We are being very very hurt by this stuff. We don't know where to turn for pastoral counsel.

---

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Traitorous Ski, or the Enablers?":

My guess is that few congregations will give the WELS power meisters an ultimatum. There is a strong but subtle undercurrent of fear that is quite rampant throughout the synod. Most fear being given the left foot of fellowship. Remember that the divine call has a lot of human intervention from the DP's. This type of intimidation has been a long time in the making. However, we should still pray about it that the Lord will use this for the benefit of his Kingdom, no matter what the outcome.

---

Follow the WELS gang at Drive 09 on their Twitters:

Pastor Tim GlendeSt. Peter's, Freedom, Wisconsin.
The 5 Seasons is a great place to debrief at the end of a great day in Atlanta.
about 2 hours ago from txt
Just had chili slaw dogs for lunch. If you are ever in Atlanta make sure you hit the Varsity.
about 12 hours ago from txt

Pastor Jim Buske (also at Drive 08), Gospel Lutheran Lighthouse.
No Tweets so far. Ski is on the Lighthouse board.

Bishop KatieThe Core, A-town.
What a night. Still trying to process @andystanley 's talk at Drive. Headed to bed and hoping I get to stay there till morning.
13 minutes ago from Tweetie
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. (via @tommytrc)
20 minutes ago from Tweetie
Hangin in the ATL with some great people. Yes they're out there. So awesome to be a part of the awesome things God is doing right now.
about 1 hour ago from Tweetie
@toddfields one word: phenomenal! God is great!
about 1 hour ago from Tweetie in reply to toddfields
Just talked with @loswhit. He's as real in person as he is on the web. That's good stuff. Love authentic people!
about 2 hours ago from Tweetie
"it is well with my soul"!!
about 2 hours ago from Tweetie
@tonymorganlive breakout one starts 8:30
about 5 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to tonymorganlive
Dinner at the Golden Corral. Got to have a salad. Probably the healthiest food I'll get for 3 days. I'm a happy girl now.
about 6 hours ago from Tweetie
Walk in 2 register. tell the guy we r from The CORE. He (clay) says I've been praying 4 u. pulls a card from his pocket with r name on it.
about 7 hours ago from Tweetie
Ready to take on the next three days after a nap and clean clothes. Does wonders!
about 7 hours ago from Tweetie
@loswhit I'm there #drive09about 11 hours ago from Tweetie in reply to loswhit
First meal in the ATL - The Varsity. Now just drivin round the city.
about 13 hours ago from Tweetie
On the ground in Atlanta. Long ride to the gate now. In desparate need of a nap.
about 15 hours ago from Tweetie
Up at 2:30 and headed to the airport now for a 6am flight. Not a morning person but this is a good reason to be up early.
about 19 hours ago from Tweetie

SkiPopcorn Cathedral of Rock, A-town.@loswhit I'm here in the ATL 4 Drive 09
about 8 hours ago from twitterrific in reply to loswhit


This Tweet is from Carlos, on the staff at Northpoint/Buckhead:
So there you have it.
I have joined arms/signed a deal with Integrity Music to write some kick booty, make you sweat, get out of your chair and leave the church building to actually do something for the Kingdom songs.

Jay King, Stephen Brewster, Chris Estes and all the peeps at Integrity. It’s time to create culture and change the world.
And it is all going to go down here…
On ragamuffinsoul.com
You ready for the ride?
Los

---

Cost for four people?

Tuition paid to the Babtists x 4 = $1,000.
Jet fare x 4 = $2,000.
Hotel and meals x 4 = $2,000.

Thus, $5,000 (roughly) was blown on this Schwaermer conference. Compare the cost to a Lutheran pastoral conference, a fraction of the cost. But hey, how many take-aways can anyone get from one of those?