Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Walther - The American Calvin. Objective Justification Belongs to Calvin,
Not St. Paul or Luther

 

LCMS-ELCA Book of Concord - Why?

 

Objective Justification Belongs to Calvin, Not St. Paul or Luther

The Scriptures do not use the shorthand label of the Means of Grace, but the term is useful for expressing what is taught –

1.      All of God’s actions come through the Holy Spirit in the Word. Isaiah 55:8ff.

2.      Therefore, God’s grace can only come to us through the Word, whether the invisible Word of preaching and teaching, or the visible Word of baptism and communion.

3.      The Gospel alone creates faith, Genesis 15:3 and Romans 1:17.

4.      Faith comes from hearing the report of the Atonement (Romans 10) and we are declared righteous by faith. Romans 4 and 5.

Luther did not invent some new concept of the Scriptures but taught the Bible as one unified truth, not a series of passages where one verse could be emphasized at the expense of all others or one theme matched up with other verses to prove a dogmatic assertion. Just as important, he carried on the rabbinic concept of God’s Word being identical to God’s will.

In contrast, Calvin teaches against the Holy Spirit always working through the Word. For good reason, Calvinism leads to Unitarianism and all kinds of quasi-Christian sects. Calvinism, far from being similar to Lutheran principles, is a deviously clever way of taking over the Reformation while opposing the essence of the Christian Faith, the Chief Article of Christianity, Justification by Faith – and rejecting the Sacraments. Worst of all, Lutherans have been suckers in giving up the Means of Grace to enjoy the favor of the Calvinists – in ecumenical talks, in union congregations, and hybrid denominations like the ELCA, the Missouri Synod, WELS, and ELS, where the label is Lutheran but the doctrine is Calvinistic Pietism.

Pietism and Calvinism share the misconception of the Church. The real church for them is not defined by the Means of Grace. Stephan’s entire group came over bearing the name Lutheran but considering themselves as an association of Pietistic cell groups. The cell groups continued in America until they were conveniently forgotten. Therefore, as separatists, they were holier than anyone else, even if they allowed the most outrageous behavior in Stephan and then responded to him with many criminal actions that enriched their colony. They transferred leadership from Stephan to Walther, and the mantle of Pietism’s guru passed to him as well.

Francis Pieper wrote correctly that Calvinism creates the monster of uncertainty. All the Lutheran leaders have taken the pilgrimages to Fuller Seminary and Willow Creek because they were no longer successful and feared for the future. The simplicity of trusting God’s Word - and sowing it with abandon - has been traded for business methods, schemes, entertainment, and snack food to fill the theater seats. How low have modern Lutherans sunk to draw people to church with -

·        Popcorn instead of the Bread of Life,

·        Pop music instead of hymns

·        Tavern Bible study groups instead of pastors teaching the Word

·        Me-centered chats instead of Scriptural sermons.

By making common cause with Calvinism through union congregations - or the hybrid called Pietism - Lutherans have denied their birthright just as Esau did his, and for much less than a bowl of lentil soup.

Simply put, denying the efficacy of the Word and the Means of Grace will always confuse the individual and place an undue emphasis on one’s emotions and various forms of legalism. Some of the more ridiculous methods of feeling successful, rather than trusting the power of the Gospel, are –

1.      Building. A large, new building will draw people.

2.      Activity. If all the members have an activity, they will be happy campers. There is even a mathematical relationship between groups and members to achieve for max results.

3.      Friendliness. “If the ushers are not friendly, the best sermon will not do any good.” That sounds so much like Calvin’s Holy Spirit visiting – or not appearing at all.

4.      Cell groups. “I don’t care what they are using in their cell group, as long as they are in one.”

5.      Theater seats. Since Willow Creek began in a movie theater, a rented cinema will be efficacious.

6.      Snacks and soda. Handing sodas and snacks to incoming visitors may seem odd. But it is even stranger to hear people munching popcorn during the prayers.

7.      Pool time. One pastor had young women invite visitors to a pool party Sunday afternoon.

8.      Cloning Groeschel material. Rev. Craig Groeschel allows people to use his sermons and graphics.

The list is a reminder of how many ways the clergy and laity can avoid the substance of Christianity.