Links from the Small Catechism Quotations Here. Gideon - And Many Others - Appreciate the Catechism Data.

Pastor Jackson,

After reading the survey of catechism texts, I was reminded that these are actually facts not mere opinions that demonstrate the shift of American Lutheranism since the 19th century.

There it is.   Makes me feel like a Catholic— or maybe marginally better than one.

Indeed, what one sees when studying the change through the decades is a microcosm of the theological shift in the Catholic Church herself through her first 1500 years.

You don’t want to believe it, but there it is.  The TRUTH never changes, but institutions do.

SDG,

Gideon

Links to Historic Small Catechism Quotations

First Catechisms - The Changes, Oh Oh

Apology of the Book of Concord - JBF

Loehe Catechism

More Small Catechism Quotations

Easter Absolution and UOJ in the Catechism

Gideon Responds to the Appleton Clown Ministry

 JP Meyer was right on target here, but they only pay attention to Meyer's UOJ. Lesson not learned? - teach the Scriptures, not the synod.

If two pastors and two staffers take a woman's husband to court (four lawsuits) for telling the truth, WELS honors the senior clown with a synodical speaking opportunity.
Does Groeschel have a selection of speeches to plagiarize?

Pastor,

I read your post about those two clowns Ski and Glende.  Every time I remember Ski was invited to Texas by Patterson, I see red and it tells me all I need to know about Patterson and the misuse of the 8th commandment. The 8th commandment was never intended to cover sin. I was told, "Well, you need to take it up with Pastor Ski personally," despite the fact that this was a public matter. They obviously didn't see a problem.  The cloak that covers evil....

...and that's what these guy are.  They are not set apart for God's work, but rather flop around in the muck as the pictures they posted on Facebook proclaim....without shame.

I had heard disturbing things about the synod for years, but my attitude has always been, "Yes, I know, but don't speak of it."  This Ski and Glende thing, (which I was able to confirm the existence of the lawsuit online, but could not find a way to get all the proceedings without driving to the courthouse to get them) was the straw that broke the camel's back.  From that point forward, I had an open mind about the WELS both the good and the bad.

Maybe if the WELS would not be so concerned about marketing church and just get back to the basics being faithful -- then maybe God would call faithful men to be pastors instead of these arse clown charlatans.

SDG,

Gideon

SP Mark Schroeder, DP Doug, Kudu Don Patterson, and DP Zank pitched in to save Jeske Thrivent funds Ski's neck.

PS - As I told Gideon, Jeske pushed Ski out of St. Marcus, because Ski was not competent. Ski received two calls (which means Super Trooper status in WELS) and landed with his drinking buddy - Tim Glende - in Appleton. Ski worked with Bishop Katy at St. Marcus, and she came to Appleton to do his work there. Bishop Katy quit before the lawsuit problem, but Katy and Ski said it was nothing to see or ask about, move along.

Ski the Sermonizer!

Ski the Sex Educator!

 WELS friendships start at the prep school level, which may explain their arrested social development.

Gideon Responds in Shock to the Confused Cascione Calvinists

I would add, once again:  What is their point of reference?  What are they trying to conserve?  Walther, Pieper, Preus?  Certainly not Luther.

Twin 1 - UOJ Enthusiast - "He was once pure as the driven snow, but he drifted."
Twin 2 - "Didn't he just publish nine volumes of Luther in one year?"

Pastor,

I hope this statement is tongue in cheek:

David Schumacher:  Whatever else Jackson may, or may not be, he is not Lutheran.  I don't believe he ever was.

Yet they partake of the same feeding bowl with the ELCA?  Never the less, if the above statement were true, one could safely conclude that Martin Luther and the rest of the Reformation fathers were not Lutherans either -- by their definition anyway.

This is simply a pretty stupid thing to say about someone, whose ministry includes publishing entire Luther sermons each week (so that nothing is taken out of context)....which is much more than can be said than their cafeteria Lutheranism.

Ichabod bleeds Luther.  I guess you have to revere Walther or Preus to to be more Lutheran.

SDG,

Gideon

 The subject of my dissertation said to one pastor, "Put your fleece on the ground like Gideon."

Pastor,

When I first found your blog, I confess I really wondered about it-- "who is this guy??", but there were too many things that made sense in it.  So, I'd bump into it every couple of months, and I was so shocked by yours posts confronting former Synodical Conference churches.  But, again and again, I read and read, it all harmonized with scripture...and Luther, who I relate to on a personal level.  

 As I read Thy Strong Word, I find things in the book lined up with my conclusions.  There was a reason for that-- Scripture.  That's what brings the Church together.  Disunity occurs when man with his powers of reason, attempt to "improve" on it.  This is what Calvin tried to do; now what a mess!

Once I got over my shock that you dared to question the Synodical Churches, I was able to get down to the matter at hand and fully appreciate your blog.  Some of your "woodcuts" are just priceless.  They make me laugh.  I like Gideon's banner too!

SDG,

Gideon

And there are those who sell their hollow wisdom, fleecing the audience.

Gideon Drops a Line Since SpenerQuest Is Offering Free Rent for My Little Blog at Their Skunk Patch. They Need To Study the Scriptures and Luther

A few posts make the UOJ Stormtroopers stampede like Brownies encountering a spider.

Pastor,

I read the recent posts on UOJ, and I always wonder, why?  Why do they try too hard to make this UOJ/OJ/SJ harmonize with Scripture and Lutheranism in general.

I used to believe that it was to somehow protect the work of Christ and fend off Arminianism.  But, why bother since we already have Universal Atonement?  Doesn't make sense.

I honestly believe that most folks, especially lay people pay lip service to UOJ/OJ/SJ without knowing what it really means, but to those who vigorously defend it--  I say they do so out of cowardice and unbelief.  As you said yourself that you endorse "...the efficacy of the Word, the Means of Grace, and Justification by Faith."  These all fit together.

This is where unbelief plays a role.  If one has no faith in the Efficacy of the Word (and consequently The Means of Grace), then one would certainly be tempted to "sell their argument" or "sell the Gospel."  How sweet would UOJ be if one were to peddle that to sell the Gospel.  "You've won $1,000,000!  You're justified! You're good!"  They just don't ever talk about their fine print SJ.  That's just legalese to them.

UOJ is an easy sell because there's no law to preach, just decide to believe and sanctify.  This way they can kinda have it both ways.  But all they really do is cheapen grace.  Small law, small god, easy sell.

But, it's not about the sale.  It's about the Efficacy of the Word.  There is no sale.

If they believed in the Efficacy of the Word and the Means of Grace, they wouldn't have to resort to UOJ or hedging their bets.  They could simply trust that God will do what he says he'll do (Isaiah 55:10-11), and if their institutions aren't included in his plan for history...so be it because that's what faith does.  "O God, this looks really bad.  I think I'll die for sure, but I trust in you."  c.f. Daniel 3 - The Fiery Furnace.

SDG,

Gideon

***

GJ - I appreciate their efforts in sending people to this blog and waking Lutherans up to their foul errors. Every day I have a lecture hall with thousands of readers. Our free worship services have "21,486 TOTAL VIEWS."

I have not seen anything serious from them, even though I took the time - which I enjoyed - going over Romans 4 and 5 in Greek and English. Since they make their beds in those verses and fall asleep dreaming of Halle and the earlier, halcyon days with Huber, they must be irritable, lacking in sleep, or suffering from withdrawal of various substances.

Gideon Will Not Enroll at Iliff - Apparently

 The blog post is linked here.

Pastor,

I've been thinking about this for a couple of days and it rather dovetails into the Concordia mess in St. Louis (debating Creation, or more accurately negotiating the veracity of Scripture).

So here we have ILIFF, the Methodist "seminary?"  Doing well apparently:

“It’s a social justice-oriented institution. It’s the perfect place for me because they care for people who are rejected and not accepted in society.”

“She worked to provide an alternative to the narrative that permeates our culture — the idea that everything around us can be traced back to individuals and their psychology, rather than social forces. At its core, this required constant (and frequently uncomfortable) critical thought. Given the nature of sociology, this also required us to think critically about our own lives and social positioning. It takes a special person to cultivate such a space for this. She always contextualized the need for such critical thought, as well.”

 My little seminary has been named Martin Luther University College, because its main program is now in counseling, with a side helping of seminary, its lowest enrollment. The dean's statement - "At the seminary, we have done so for decades. Our school has grown to become an inclusive and multifaith learning environment. Our students represent over 30 religious traditions — or claim to no faith tradition at all. Many are also members of historically marginalized groups including LGBTQ, physically challenged, Jewish, Muslim, and Indigenous communities."

At this point, it may be debated if LLIFF is even a seminary at all since it seems to be more concerned with sociology and psychology than the Gospel.  One may wonder how on earth did the church of Wesley get here.  The answer may be with Wesley himself:  “And at the same time that we are justified, yea, in that very moment, sanctification begins.”  And, this is true as far as it goes, but Wesley went further.  It has been said of Wesley, "Luther got Justification right, I will get Sanctification right." (Craig Parton said this once at a conference paraphrasing Wesley.  The Remarkable Decline of American Evangelicalism).

And so he went, and so many followed.  Sanctification becomes the focus and Justification became a mere academic point.  Our egos love it when we can do things, and we get so full of that self adoration.  Accomplishments feel good.  Our accomplishments.  This is the danger of getting away from the Cross (Justification).  Justification by Faith is something that God does; it's his gift to us, but Sanctification is something we do in response to give him glory-- as it should be.  BUT...once Justification is removed, things can and do go sideways.

This is not something unique to Wesley, but rather common to all men.  We want to have that "garden moment" when we can take that fruit and stand on our own.  God is forgotten; this is our moment.

So, what is the result?  Where did the successors and followers of Wesley (and his ilk) end up?  Eventually we have the things like the Salvation Army (as it exists today) and what was known as the "social gospel."  Neither had much or anything to do with the Cross, and I believe ultimately these eventually gave birth to the Social Justice movement we have today ( completely devoid of the Gospel and Christ and his Cross as evidenced by a complete lack of forgiveness of its adherents).  Hence, we have the Methodist LLIFF.  Seems extreme to say that's antichrist, but where's the Gospel in that "seminary."

Herein lies the importance of being grounded in what God does and not in what we do.  Law and Gospel.  The Scriptures.  The Confessions.  Cathechisis.  With these we never stray too far.

To be sure, the likes of Bonhoeffer will remind us of the importance of Discipleship, but we won't be need to be reminded if we remember how we are justified.  If we understand Justification by Faith for what it is (which does not tend to antinomianism)  and for what OJ/SJ/UOJ is not(which does tend to antinomianism).  Faith demands an answer on it's own.  2 Cor. 5 and 6 have much to say about this.  If one reads the entire chapter it become clear that those addressed are believers (and not the entirety of humanity).  We (not the world!) are compelled / controlled / constrained. (v.14) That's what faith does.  Without faith, look to the world, and ILIFF.  With faith (the faith that God [the Holy Spirit] gives through Word and Sacrament) we cannot help but bear fruit.  For faith bears witness to both the Law and Gospel.  This fruit is real and God pleasing.  We go beyond that, we become self important.

This is why Concordia needs to stop with this foolish debate over Creation.  What do the Scriptures say?  Case closed.  Persisting in this foolishness can only eventually result in a slow slide into apostasy.  Need proof?  Just run the history of the synodical conference in reverse and ask those who walked before what they think.  Yea, ask Luther, Chemnitz, Augustine...or better yet the Scriptures which are chock full of warnings about the slow slide.  Stop the slide!  Engage the world with the Gospel!  Matt 28-18-20.  We need faithful Pastors!

SDG,

Gideon

---

Another brilliant letter from "Gideon".

 

Thank you for posting.  It's a comfort to the soul.

 

Alec 

Gideon - The Concordia St. Louis Professors Are Debating the Wrong Issues

Pastor,

Your post on Creation this morning was another very good post, if one takes the time to take it all in; you wrapped up the point very nicely at the end.  My take on it was simply this:  

"Guys (to the Concordia Profs) you're asking the wrong questions and debating the wrong issues.  If you are who you say you are.  If you believe what you confess, that is the the Inerrant Word and the Lutheran Confessions.  If the word is indeed efficacious then it would follow that creation account is exactly that what it says for God cannot lie.  Why all the crutches?  Why negotiate with liars?  God's Word will do exactly what God intends it to do (cf. Isaiah 55:8-11).  Did the prophets negotiate?  Did Jesus shrink and squirm before the Pharisees?  Peter?  Paul?  This stuff isn't negotiable."

I believe was Luther that said it best (I have no direct citation or quote, but it would be nice to track it down one day...), it is not our job to make people believe the Gospel.  That task belongs to the Holy Spirit.  Ours is to simply to proclaim the Word.  Scatter the seed.

Jackson Rose Farm, grown with Creation principles.

It is a ridiculous notion that belief is a decision anyway.  That is why Justification by Faith Alone is NOT fideism.  One cannot decide to believe this or that.  They either are convinced....or not.  I have believed 2 and 2 is 4 ever since I was convinced of that fact a young boy.  I can't disbelieve it now because I _KNOW_ it to be true.  Similarly the Gospel truth is a gift of knowledge of the Spirit.

What those Concordia profs are doing (negotiating) with creation is in itself an act of disbelief, not the action of God fearing men.  They may think they are doing God a favor, but where in the scripture has anyone, who thought they would go out on their own to do God a favor, has in that account gone well?  (King Saul comes to mind when he didn't wait for Samuel...)

SDG,

Gideon 

By Norma A. Boeckler

***
From Alex Satin, Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry -
This one:
"It is a ridiculous notion that belief is a decision anyway. That is why Justification by Faith Alone is NOT fideism. One cannot decide to believe this or that. They either are convinced….or not. I have believed 2 and 2 is 4 ever since I was convinced of that fact a young boy. I can’t disbelieve it now because I KNOW it to be true. Similarly the Gospel truth is a gift of knowledge of the Spirit."

Never heard it presented so clearly. Well done Gideon!!!