I have almost given up on the Lutheran clergy, but not quite. More precisely, I am counting on the efficacy of the Word to separate the bug-infested flour from the good flour (Luther's expression).
Ranger Bob would probably say, "Bug-infested flour has more protein and minerals." He spent a little too much time in survival school and generously provides those experiences with us.
Looking at infested food is quite revolting. If a shopper spends some time in a grocery story, where natural grains are sold, he will find warnings on the bags - "Rotate to prevent infestation."
Infestation parades as scholarship today, but what does scholarship really mean? The word comes from the Greek expression for leisure, not the American concept of having a lot of degrees. Most of our culture comes from Athens, where wealth allowed people the leisure to study nature, law, philosophy, art, sculpture, poetry, and engineering.
Those who spend their leisure time studying the Word of God are the real scholars. Carpetbaggers Robert and Jack Preus moved to the ELS then the LCMS - on the strength of their doctorates. But neither man knew the Chief Article of Christianity or taught it when they joined to become leaders.
Those who best understand the Scriptures are the laity, who rely on the Word of God. They are not polluted by the fads and fallacies of modern theology and rationalistic Biblical scholarship. An example is posted here.
Unfortunately, since OJ and Church Growth took over the LCMS-ELS-WELS-clc (sic), their only goal in education is to turn out pastors who are loyal to those fads. The rest - beware, the Left Foot of Fellowship is easily extended - in love.
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The Kindle ebook version of The Path To Understanding Justification is already available at this link - for 99 cents.
HAL has to check over the print version before that becomes available, perhaps later today.
Update - The print version is available here.
For those who want the book without using Kindle -
Free PDF at the Link Below
Click here for the final version of The Path To Understanding Justification.https://www.dropbox.com/s/kyn83vajv25xvfy/Path%20To%20Justification%20Color.pdf?dl=0
The author's price for the print book (full color, covers and illustrations by Norma A. Boeckler) will be around $8.
The primary goal of the book is to deal with the clear, plain teaching of Justification by Faith in the Scriptures.
