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| Two roads diverged in the woods and I, I took to my heels - too young to die. (The Intrepids scattered after one conference, the head Intrepid being the first to bail out.) |
Gideon commented on catechism material from some months ago. When someone wants to communicate on this blog, I post it. A few people really pursue the varying editions of the Small Catechism, which are like rings on a tree. We know about the rings but seldom see them, though they are everywhere.
Many people have their catechism from their days in confirmation class - or a soccer ball from Victory of the Lamb (WELS). Assumed in my day - memorization was good for children, especially worthwhile academic material.
Assumed today, "Memorizing will damage young minds," so they turn their attention to rock lyrics and cool commercials.
I am an outsider to editions, I only used the Small Catechism booklets, straight from the Book of Concord. But they are handy evidence to use in doctrinal histories. There are classic attack strategies - "In view of faith!" which make faith seem the most odious possible outcome of training, unless it is "faith in me as your Objective Justification guide." That is alleged to be a good trait in ovine minds. Faith in Jesus is bad, faith in OJ is blessed.
I said to DP Mueller, called "more spineless than DP Nitz" by F. Bivens -
"The original phrasing is perfectly fine, isn't it? - In view of the merits of Christ, apprehended by faith." Mueller conceded that there was nothing wrong with that.
The dogmatic demagogues work constantly to make faith - even saying the word faith - evil. Like the demons, they believe but their hides bristle. They know just enough to hate, despise, condemn, and censor.
I was examined by two LCMS district presidents, some years apart. One made sure I knew how much he loathed home-schooling. Another wanted to know if I had read the LCMS report on Church Growth. Deep guys, those WELS and LCMS DPs. They hasten to protect UOJ and Church Growth, the twin toxins of their synods.
The Lutheran leaders constantly expand their Babylonian Talmud of rules about shunning, but explain how the Calvinists, Baptists, Calvinist Baptists, and Pentecostals are good sources for evangelism. They advocate safe sects but quail at Biblical, Lutheran doctrine.
Several people have awakened me about Calvinism taking over the Baptist congregations, something I never dreamed possible. Of course, that is the problem with "No creed but the Bible." The Baptists kill off curiosity about doctrine: they make everyone as persuadable as a girl who just off the bus from convent school.
These Calvinist conquistadors - Dever, 9Marks - strike me as modern Walthers in the worst sense:
- Full of orders and Law demands;
- Relying on thesis statements rather than Biblical teaching.
If someone can embed those declarations in neutral territory - supposedly doctrine-free minds - they can make every suggestion fit into their little world, no matter how absurd.
Few laity can accept world absolution without faith, but they feel guilty if they are accused of being disloyal to Holy Mother Synod.
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| The worst Bible translation evah! UOJ is embedded. This is the official WELS Bible now, because they had one meeting for grousing, the next meeting for surrender. |
