Let Us Pause To Honor the WELS Framework of Fellowship

WELS pontificates - "They are outside the framework of church fellowship." But of course, WELS ardently worships at the same throne.

I was talking to a member about all the honored greats of Church Growth who imploded, plus a few other scoundrels. WELS and Missouri share them - but the Little Sect on the Prairie is pure (yuk, yuk). Just ask the ELS.

Mark and Avoid Jeske is a regular Robert Schulller, liberal Calvinist, tireless self-promoter, anxious to include every confession of faith, except Justification by Faith.
He has his hands in Thrivent and the Seibert Foundation, The Core, Church and Church (now in stealth mode), and various other entities.

Starting at the top left - Craig Groeschel was being copied verbatim at the Glende-Ski Popcorn Cathedral of Love. The lawyer who proved this and objected to it was excommunicated. The DP supported Glende and Ski.

Top middle - Mark Driscoll - who said bodies would be piled up when he was done. Ski, Glende, and Bishop Katie went to absorb the magic.

Next row down, left - Donald McGavran, Disciples of Christ, founder of Church Growth, promoter of Planned Parenthood in writing.

Aging hippy with the moustache - Leonard Sweet - adored in WELS and the LCMS St. Louis Apostasiorium. Maybe he was really profound, but he sounded like one of those weed addicts who never stop talking.

The cheerful chubby is Ed Stetzer, who is currently very big at Wheaton College and Trinity Divinity in Deerfield. The Deerfield branch of Pietism was used so much by WELS staff that their Love Shack was mentioned twice in one annual report. Trinity Divinity has been disgraced by the behavior of Bill Hybels (below) and Ravi Zacharias. WELS gave pastors money to learn from His Holiness Hybels (but offered me a scholarship there).

The big white-haired portrait is C. Peter Wagner, aka Pete Wagner, also popular in WELS, though his Pentecostal ravings should have frightened most people away. He fell for the creepy guy who was "raising people from the dead" in Florida. He was the hot-shot promoter for McGavran, or as WELS might say, the Larry Olson for the Founder of Church Growth.

At the bottom is Andy Stanley, gay activist Babtist, son of the equally appalling Charles Stanley. Glende, Ski, Bishop Katie (and others) attended at least one Andie Stanley money-maker. Ski blogged about it - lavishing praise on Andy Stanley and worshiping with him. The blog was out in public for a long time. I copied parts of it, because I knew they would destroy the evidence and deny it. 

WELS pastors and staff, plus LCMS dolts of the same persuasion, can always be found with Enthusiasts. They are now so deluded that they continue on the same path, looking for more reasons their faithless Law speeches are driving people away or into their lupine jaws.

Let us not forget Archbishop Weakland, who was invited - with his priests - to offer public lectures at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS), a fact later denied by the college and WELS. The lectures were publicized (also denied by WELS). It was not a private luncheon, as WELS declared, which is even more bizarre than lectures. Weakland was also under fire for his relationship with a man and his misuse of church funds, but that was no problem for WELS.

Archbishop Rembert Weakland

One WELS Church Growth expert sold Cho books at a WELS gathering, and Cho was promoted at the Kelm conference I was forced to attend.

I do not remember if Hill's name was mentioned in awe - as so many phonies are in WELS - but he was a major influence for Robert Schuller, who received an award for supporting Hill's dogma. Pete Wagner talked crazy like this too. Luther warned that when the Means of Grace are set aside, many foul errors will rush in. 

 WELS has a special hatred for the Book of Concord. They are Quia Marias, pretending to love a confession they despise and corrupt. The ELS is the same but quieter.

Cross-dressing Andy Mueller, son of Wayne, is a big deal at Church and Change Your Gender, the WELS Church Growth cult that went invisible.

From Four Years Ago - Another WELS Parasitical Church. Does Anyone Have an Update?

A report from the field:

Here's another (W)ELS mission church that has a lot in common with the (W)ELS emergent church The Core.
 
Jarod Oldenburg is the pastor and church planter assigned by the Synod.  Things in common are sheep stealing to start the church.  The church name avoids any reference to Lutheran or WELS, although it can be found by looking.  They are using Baptist theological books for education and inspiration.

 I had a run in with Pastor Oldenburg years ago following his attendance at a Reggie McNeal (Baptist) training seminar.  He returned and was promoting the idea that if we didn't communicate God's word in the language of today we just wouldn't be communicating.  He was also working on writing new creeds for his mission - Light of Life in Covington, Wa.)  

Once a month preview services for the reasons given below.  One year of preparation before the first service is to begin.

Starting a (W)ELS church called Eternal Rock.  Quotes from Pastor Oldenburg's blog:
"Up until this point, our primary goal has been to locate mission-minded WELS members who would like to help our effort"

"During the Launch meeting, we will be sharing the Eternal Rock mission:  “Follow Jesus: Live Love.”"

"To help us align, we chose to go through the book Essential Church.  The book is not gospel truth, but it did provide some great points for discussion."

Once a month Preview Services - "will allow us time to follow-up on guests and make any necessary changes (location, timing, equipment, etc.)"

"September 2011 - Sometime after Labor Day we will launch our weekly services."

Timeline
2009–September–The WELS Board for Home Missions decides to fund the exploratory mission in Castle Rock, Colorado.  This decision is based on funding and the presence of an interested core group of families that live in and around Castle Rock.

2010–May–Pastor Jared Oldenburg [grew up in Appleton], at the time serving the church he started in Covington, WA, accepts the call to serve as the church planter for the Castle Rock Mission.

2010–July–Pastor Oldenburg arrives with his family (wife and three kids).
 
2010–August–first mission meeting to discuss schedule and general goals for the mission.  It is determined that the group will meet every other week and read/study together the book Essential Church.  The first meeting had 20 adults.

2010-September–New name!  Eternal Rock Lutheran Church. The other finalists were Rock of Life and Christ Our Rock.  New website is launched at www.eternalrock.org the same month as well as a serving Castle Rock task force.

2010–October–Serving Castle Rock task force starts the process of a “Community Needs Assessment” and makes plans to interview community officials and serve the community.
http://jaredoldenburg.wordpress.com/

Interesting factoid - Baptist Thom Rainer who cowrote the book Essential Church (which Oldenburg is using) has just finished his new book, Transformational Church which he co wrote with Ed Stetzer.

"Ed Stetzer and I provide the full story of our study and these churches in our recently released book called, of course, Transformational Church. More than anything, the study and the book is a story of hope."  Thom Rainer

http://www.thomrainer.com/

 
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Houston, Prepare for Launch

December 22, 2010

by jaredoldenburg

Houston, Prepare for Launch

There are really about a thousand ways you can start a church. Some (in my opinion) are good and some, well, not so great.  To tip my hand a little, anything involving clowns, carnies or pyrotechnics is bad.  What follows is not some breakthrough model for church planting. What follows is simply an explanation of the approach we are taking to start Eternal Rock.

Before we get into too many details, some general church planting principles ought to be laid out.  First, it is generally good to start a church in the fall because many people are settling down into some routines after a busy/distracted summer.  Second, if you are going to write about planting your church, make sure you use exaggerated blog titles that make it sound like you are about to send something to Mars. Third, in this day and age, it makes some sense to get to know/serve a community first and launch second.

Alignment (July-December)
Up until this point, our primary goal has been to locate mission-minded WELS members who would like to help our effort.  It is not that we don’t care about the unchurched, but instead we figure we can best serve and reach the unchurched in the future if we strengthen our core group.  To help us align, we chose to go through the book Essential Church.  The book is not gospel truth, but it did provide some great points for discussion.  It looks like we have just over 20 adults who are committed to our efforts and excited to help make it happen.

Prelaunch I (January-May)
Starting in January, our primary goals will move towards the planning aspects of launching a church.  This will be divided up into two types of meetings: Launch and Planning.

Launch
During the Launch meeting, we will be sharing the Eternal Rock mission:  “Follow Jesus: Live Love.”

The first meeting will cover the mission of Jesus and in turn our mission as a church.  During successive monthly meetings, we will be explaining and expanding each of the parts.  For example, “Follow Jesus” would mean follow Jesus through worship and by studying His Word.  During the meetings, we will discuss/present what this will look like at our new church.
Anyone who may want to be involved is invited to these meetings. The first is January 16^th at 4:00pm at the Castle Oaks Church (across from Nike) in the Castle Rock Outlet Mall.

Planning
If you think of the launch meetings as casting a vision for the new church, the planning meetings will focus on the business end of launching a church.  Couples and individuals will be encouraged to focus on either worship, outreach, education, or service as we get ready to have our first preview service in May.  If the Launch meetings focus on what it will look like, the planning meetings will focus on what it will take to make it happen.

Prelaunch II (May-August)
During this time we will be holding worship once each month.  The weeks between preview services will allow us time to follow-up on guests and make any necessary changes (location, timing, equipment, etc.).  This is also a time when we will start to emphasize outreach and service to the community.  Not only will we have something to invite people to (worship), but we will also be mobilized to do some things in the community.


Launch (September 2011)
Sometime after Labor Day we will launch our weekly services.  The idea is that by this service date and with the help of the preview services, we will have the location, signage, welcome, timing, equipment, etc, ready so we can focus our greatest efforts on reaching those who are far from God.

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GJ - Somebody should do a census on the emergent churches already in the area. This congregation is another example of Stetzer-based work. "What we believe" is so watered down and vague that any denomination could post the same words.

Their pre launch meetings are being held at Castle Oaks Church - Evangelical Covenant
http://www.castleoaks.org/Home.aspx


I noticed the links to WELS do not work, although the website is "crazy easy" to maintain.

If you do not like this development, write a letter!

If you did not speak to the pastor first, you will be accused of violating Matthew 18. If you did speak to him first, you will be accused of not writing a letter first.

If you meet with other members and pastors and try to do something, nothing will happen, even if the DP meets with you. He probably will not. If he does meet with you, he will blame this blog for getting you upset.

You will not be taken seriously. The DP will retaliate against you, your family, and your friends. Former friends. They will desert you as soon as they find out you questioned Holy Mother WELS.

Or send an email to the Synod President. He will send a secretive message back (if you are lucky) saying that he is working on it.

Classic Ichabod - Stetzer, Warren, and Sweet - Oh My!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Stetzer, Warren, and Sweet - Oh My!

Two Babtists at work: Warren (DMin, Fuller) and Stetzer.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Kitteh Laments":

How does Ichabod feel about W/ELS pastors and congregations using Rick Warren's Forty Days of Purpose, and getting their congregations placed on Saddleback's site as a recommended congregation?

Saddleback, according to their website clearly teaches decision theology and totally denies the Means of Grace.

How could any W/ELS congregation seek the sanction of such a church?

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GJ - WELS Seminary professors have promoted Babtist authors ever since Valleskey, and probably before that. J. P. Meyer, whose toxic Ministers of Christ became the foundation for Kokomo, offered up Decision Theology in his book.

A graduate of The Sausage Factory in the 1980s said his library was all Reformed, due to the books suggested by the faculty. Someone else wrote in to say Jay Adams was all the rage when he was there.

The Wisconsin educational faculties and Love Shack drones have clearly lost their faith in the Word of God. Deformed doctrine, which they love, is shot through with rationalism. Once rationalism is introduced to Biblical doctrine, the Sacraments recede and disappear. Following that, Christ turns into an inspirational oracle, full of insights drawn from Napoleon Hill, Buddha, and Paul Y. Cho.

So what do I think of studying Rick Warren's book? That is worse than feeding poison to one's spouse and children, telling them it is for their own good.

There are some remarkable exceptions, but the typical WELS pastor is hopeless about the Book of Concord and doctrine in general. The best education in theology comes from slugging it out with false teachers. WELS pastors are taught to excuse false doctrine and advocate unionism, with loyalty to the institution more important than the Scriptures and Confessions.

I will compare it with Islamic history. I never took much interest in it until I had to teach it to college students who knew little about any religion or world history. Suddenly, every serious book about Islam and the Byzantine Empire became fascinating. I had a real hunger for those books and read through Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire twice. Questions in class made me want to read more. Take away the need to teach and the desire to study diminished.

That is the genius of unionism. Once unionism is established, no one wants to pursue doctrinal differences and no one will address those distinctions. Curiosity is gone. If anyone dares to whisper, "We are studying false teachers," someone will join Valleskey in hissing, "They are Christians and we can learn from them, too."

In Columbus, talking about false doctrine was denounced as "Christian bashing." The very nature of Christianity, to distinguish between sound and false doctrine, is extinguished by such slogans, and the charge for all pastors (from the Pastoral Epistles) is reduced to nonsense.

KJV 2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

There are more than a few similar passages:

KJV 1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

KJV 1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

KJV 1 Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

KJV 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

KJV 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

KJV 1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

KJV 2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

KJV Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

KJV 2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

KJV Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Stetzer, Warren, and Sweet - Oh My!":

Many in the WELS are astonishingly ignorant and apathetic. Apathy of course leading to vast and sometimes unmeasurable ignorance.

Light of Life Lutheran Church, Covington Wa. under Pastor Jared conducted their own Purpose Driven study when the occultic book first came out. (Pastor Jared was nurtured by the WELS Church Growth fanatics at Sem. With the help of the congregation wrote their own Creeds, studied under Baptist Reggie McNeal and wrote and promoted some horrendous CGM drivel).

The whole Rick Warren occultic, New Age, New World Order drive reminds me of how he is fullfiling the three stages of error.

Speaking to the Islamic Society of North America recently Warren said, "“People don't want to be tolerated, they want to be respected, they want to be listened to. They want to be valued." "I am not interested in interfaith dialogue, I am interested in interfaith projects," Warren said. "Talk is very cheap."

http://www.isna.net/articles/News/Rick-Warren-calls-on-Muslims-and-Christians-to-work-together.aspx

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/warren-convention-muslims-2483889-interfaith-want

When the only money available comes from and through the New Age Roman Catholic religion the faithless in the Lutheran Synods will embrace anything for their share. And the sheeple in the pews will coo their unwitting approval, "All for the love of lost souls!"

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Another person wrote:

This article from a non Lutheran source is one which does a good job of laying out the final extreme result of what Spener might never have even imagined. To quote your series re: pietism, Warren's efforts stretch Bergendoff's motto to the max, "Doctrine divides, but service unites".....Warren's version is at the expense of Christianity itself.

I recommend this (http://www.newswithviews.com) article -- Paul Proctor -- Rick Warren: From Tolerance To Respect. You should check this out at, http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor183.htm

I am all for non unionistic working as a Christian Church for the love of lost souls. But if it's not done in, through and with the pure Word in doctrine and practice then it is not love. Then it harms and does not help. Just as Christ says Luke 17:1-2, "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." Then it is not for love when what they bring is false teaching.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Stetzer, Warren, and Sweet - Oh My!":


The WELS on Rick Warren:

http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=941&cuItem_itemID=23728

Richard L. Gurgel, "My copy of The Purpose Driven Life proclaims: “Over Six Million Copies Sold.” Obviously many have read it and benefited. The temptation for us as Lutherans is to ignore such books, since in our justifiable fear of pietism1 we are sometimes timid about encouraging biblical piety."
http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1712&cxDatabase_databaseID=1&id=7090&magazine=Forward%20in%20Christ

Hilarious WELS NNIV Comments. Should Be Called the Hooters Report, From People Hooting with Laughter

The Southern Babtists do not want the NNIV in their bobble stores.
They can't like this bobble.
Mainline apostates love the NNIV.

They will keep studying that thing until everyone approves it. They had the young guys, worried about future calls, review the NNIV anonymously. How quaint.

The five weakest passages in this section of the NIV11
D 1) Ro 3:27 “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.”

With the 2011 edition the NIV no longer uses “principle” as its translation of νόμος in this verse. The reader instead is allowed to appreciate how Paul is playing on that word νόμος. Due to our usual understanding of “law,” however, one wonders how many readers will discern the point the apostle is making. In addition, rendering νόμος πίστεως as “the law that requires faith” implies that believing the Gospel is the one deed that God demands. “All you have to do is believe” is not a Scriptural doctrine, however.

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Ninevah to replace the HIV translation.
Apostates rejoice.
Schroeder helpless.

Romans 3:24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
By repeating “all” from the previous clause, the NIV11 makes universal / objective justification more clear in this context than the ESV which does not restate the subject for the second verb and the HCSB which opts for “They are justified….” Here the NIV11 has the simplest exegetical-doctrinal solution.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Hilarious WELS NNIV Comments. Should Be Called the...":

The UOJist's perversion of Romans 3:24 is consistent with their continued persecution of Christ and His Church.

Solafide recently brought attention to this twisting of God's Word in this post :
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/10/sola-fide-has-been-bad-not-allow-to.html

A simple look at the context of verses which the UOJists rip their proof texts from is enough for a third grader to label them heretics and enemies of the cross of Christ.

Romans 3:
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Only a pagan can get UOJ (justification: the forgiveness of sins without faith) out of those passages.